Fetal Endoscopic Tracheal Occlusion (FETO) Trial for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

This pilot trial tests a prenatal procedure called FETO (Fetal Endoscopic Tracheal Occlusion) for severe cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a birth defect where abdominal organs move into the chest and prevent the baby's lungs from developing properly. The procedure temporarily blocks the baby's airway in the womb to stimulate lung growth, potentially improving survival after birth. Eligible participants are pregnant women aged 18 or older carrying a single fetus with severe CDH (very underdeveloped lungs) who can live near Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York for the remainder of the pregnancy. Participation requires the FETO procedure at 27–30 weeks of pregnancy, close monitoring, delivery at the study center, and compliance with activity restrictions during the pregnancy. This summary was prepared to help patients understand the study in plain language.