Normal fetal karyotype with confirmation by culture results. Results by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) will be acceptable if the patient is \> 26 weeks
Isolated Left CDH with liver up
Gestation age at enrollment prior to 29 wks plus 6 days
SEVERE pulmonary hypoplasia with US LHR O/E \< 25% (measured at 180 to 295 weeks) at the time of surgery
Gestational age at FETO procedure 27 weeks 0 days to 29 weeks 6 days as determined by clinical information (LMP) and evaluation of first ultrasound
Family meets psychosocial criteria
Pre-authorization from third-party payor for fetal intervention OR the ability to self-pay for study treatment. For all patients without insurance or the means to pay for the procedure, an attempt will be made to obtain Medicaid. Insurers that have denied payment have noted that this remains an experimental procedure. As this is a feasibility study and not being offered as either standard of care or as a prospective randomized control trial to determine efficacy, the investigators do not feel that there is a breach of ethical standards.
Informed consent
Patient \< 18 years of age
Multi-fetal pregnancy
Rubber latex allergy
Preterm labor, cervix shortened (\< 15 mm at enrollment or within 24 hours of FETO balloon insertion procedure) or uterine anomaly strongly predisposing to preterm labor, placenta previa
Family does not meet psychosocial criteria. Reasons for exclusion include: insufficient social support, inability to understand requirements of the study, inability to reside in or near San Francisco.
Right sided CDH or bilateral CDH, isolated left sided with LHR O/E \< 25% (measured at 180 to 295 weeks) as determined by ultrasound
Additional fetal anomaly by ultrasound, MRI, or echocardiogram at the fetal treatment center. Exclude chromosomal abnormalities, associated anomalies recognized to alter survival prognosis (ie. CDH and congenital heart disease) or presence of an underlying genetic syndrome (ie. Fryns). No cases will be removed post hoc if abnormalities are discovered in the course of post-operative monitoring
Maternal contraindication to fetoscopic surgery or severe maternal medical condition in pregnancy
History of incompetent cervix with or without cerclage
Placental abnormalities (previa, abruption, accrete) known at time of enrollment
Maternal-fetal Rh isoimmunization, Kell sensitization or neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia affecting the current pregnancy
Maternal HIV, Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C status positive because of the increased risk of transmission to the fetus during maternal-fetal surgery. If the patient's HIV or Hepatitis status is unknown, the patient must be tested and found to have negative results before enrollment
Uterine anomaly such as large or multiple fibroids or mullerian duct abnormality
There is no safe or technically feasible fetoscopic approach to balloon placement
Participation in another intervention study that influences maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality or participation in this trial in a previous pregnancy
