Fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion for severe isolated diaphragmatic hernia: initial experience from a single clinic in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

To report on the initial experience in a single Brazilian university clinic of the use of fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion (FETO) to treat severe isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

METHODS

The inclusion criteria for FETO for this prospective study were isolated CDH and intrathoracic herniation of the liver, as well as the lung area to head circumference ratio (LHR) <1.0. The main variables evaluated were LHR and observed to expected (o/e) LHR before and after FETO, gestational age (GA) at FETO, reversal of tracheal occlusion (TO), and birth and discharge of a living child from the hospital.

RESULTS

Among 8 isolated left-sided CDH cases with normal karyotypes, the median LHR and o/e LHR before FETO were 0.7 (range: 0.6-0.9) and 0.27 (range: 0.22-0.32), respectively. The median LHR and o/e LHR after FETO were 1.2 (range: 0.9-1.8) and 0.45 (0.31-0.67), respectively. The median GA at FETO, reversal of TO and birth were 26.8 (range: 26-29), 32.5 (range: 31.0-34.0) and 37 weeks (range: 35-37), respectively. Neonatal survival at the time of hospital discharge was 50% (4/8).

CONCLUSION

FETO is feasible at our institution and may help to improve postnatal survival of children with severe CDH in developing countries.