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NCT Number: NCT07166172

Prospective Registry for Long-term Outcomes Following FETO in Severe Left and Right CDH

This registry study aims to confirm that FETO increases neonatal survival to discharge and reduces long-term morbidity in fetuses with isolated left CDH and o/e LHR < 30%, or isolated right CDH and o/e LHR ≤ 45%, compared to those receiving standard care. This prospective registry plans to enroll 80 pregnant women (40 treatment/40 control) with fetuses diagnosed with isolated CDH, and the children will be followed for up to 24 months.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Ahmet A. Baschat, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

410-502-6561

About this study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate successful placement and removal of Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO) device in cases of intrathoracic liver herniation with isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (LCDH) with Observed/Expected (O/E) Lung to Head Circumference Ratio (LHR) < 30% or isolated right congenital diaphragmatic hernia (RCDH) with O/E LHR ≤ 45%,to compare survival to discharge from the neonatal intensive care units (NICU), between fetuses with intrathoracic liver herniation and isolated LCDH with O/E LHR < 30% that receive FETO procedure performed at 27 weeks + 0 days to 29weeks + 6 days of gestation to those with intrathoracic liver herniation, isolated LCDH and o/e LRH < 30% that undergo expectant management, to compare the neonatal survival rate to discharge from the neonatal intensive care units (NICU), between fetuses with intrathoracic liver herniation, isolated RCHD with o/e LHR ≤ 45% that undergo FETO procedure performed at 27 weeks + 0 days to 29 weeks + 6 days gestation to those with intrathoracic liver herniation, isolated RCHD and o/e LHR ≤ 45% that elect to proceed with expectant management, to evaluate the frequency of maternal and fetal complications associated with FETO procedure, to evaluate whether the FETO procedure is associated with reduced long-term mortality and morbidities in isolated LCDH survivors with o/e LHR <30% when compared to isolated LCDH with o/e LRH <30% that undergo expectant management where all fetuses were found to have intrathoracic liver herniation and to evaluate whether the FETO procedure is associated with reduced long-term mortality and morbidities in isolated RCDH survivors with o/e LHR ≤ 45% when compared to isolated RCHD with LHR ≤ 45% that undergo expectant management where all fetuses were found to have intrathoracic liver herniation.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Pregnant women age 18 years and older
  • Singleton pregnancy
  • Normal Karyotype, chromosomal microanalysis (CMA) with non-pathologic variants, whole exome sequencing (WES) or whole genome sequencing (WGS). Results by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) will be acceptable if the patient is > 26 weeks gestation.
  • Gestational age at enrollment is prior to 29 weeks + 6 days gestation.
  • Intrathoracic liver herniation:
  • Isolated left CDH with o/e LHR < 30% at enrollment (18wks + 0 days to 29wks + 5 days gestation).
  • Isolated right CDH with o/e LHR ≤ 45% at enrollment (18wks + 0 days to 29wks + 5 days gestation).
  • Cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound ≥ 20 mm within 24 hours prior to FETO procedure.
  • Patient meets psychosocial criteria.
  • Informed consent understood.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient < 18 years of age
  • Multi-fetal pregnancy
  • History of natural rubber latex allergy
  • Preterm labor, cervix shortened (<20 mm at enrollment or within 24 hours of FETO balloon insertion procedure) or uterine anomaly strongly predisposing to preterm labor, placenta previa.
  • Psychosocial ineligibility, precluding consent:
  • Inability to reside within 30 minutes of Johns Hopkins Hospital Center for Fetal Therapy.
  • The patient does not have a support person (e.g., spouse, partner, mother) available to stay with the patient for the duration of the pregnancy at Johns Hopkins Hospital Center for Fetal Therapy.
  • Bilateral CDH, isolated left sided CDH with O/E LHR ≥ 30% (18wks + 0 days to 29wks + 5 days gestation), isolated right sided CDH with O/E LHR > 45% (18wks + 0 days to 29wks + 5 days gestation), as determined by ultrasound.
  • No liver herniation into thoracic cavity.
  • Additional fetal anomaly and chromosomal abnormalities by ultrasound, MRI, or echocardiogram at the fetal treatment center. Exclude chromosomal abnormalities, associated anomalies recognized to alter survival prognosis (i.e., CDH and congenital heart disease) or presence of an underlying genetic syndrome (i.e., Fryns).
  • Maternal contraindication to fetoscopic surgery or severe maternal medical condition in pregnancy.
  • History of incompetent cervix with or without cerclage.
  • Placental abnormalities (previa, abruption, accreta) 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 anomalies 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.

Treatment and study plan

Fetal Treatment arm (FETO Group)

Device

Participants will undergo FETO surgery between 27 weeks + 0 days to 29 weeks + 6 days gestation. The FETO intervention involves two procedures: (1) inserting a balloon into the fetal trachea, and (2) removing the balloon before delivery. After the first FETO procedure, participants will be monitored weekly by ultrasound. Removal of the balloon will be performed at 34 weeks + 0 days to 34 weeks + 6 days gestation. Planned delivery will occur after 37 weeks. The follow-up phase will be conducted from birth to 24 months of age.

Other names: Fetal Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO)

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of successful placement of FETO device

    Time frame: 10-60 minutes after surgery begins

  2. Number of successful removal of FETO device

    Time frame: Immediately after the procedure (about 1 hour after start of surgery)

  3. Number of FETO procedure complications

    Time frame: End of study (24 months)

    Complications include: Failure FETO insertion procedure, FETO device dislodgement potentially requiring a second FETO insertion, Fetal intraoperative injury, Procedural hemorrhage, Bleeding from insertion site or Abruptions, Post-procedural hemorrhage PPROM, Preterm delivery, Chorioamnion separation, Chorioamnionitis, Polyhydramnios, Oligohydramnios, Emergent removal due to obstetrical complication, Failed percutaneous or fetoscopic removal requiring cesarean section or exit procedure for removal, Neonatal death due to asphyxia if delivery before FETO removal, and Non-reassuring fetal heart rate monitoring.

  4. Number of neonates that survived

    Time frame: From delivery to hospital discharge

    Neonatal survival to discharge

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of infants that survived

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. Number of infants that survived

    Time frame: 12 months

  3. Number of infants that survived

    Time frame: 18 months

  4. Number of infants that survived

    Time frame: 24 months

  5. Number of infants that show presence of pulmonary hypertension

    Time frame: 6 months

  6. Number of infants that show presence of pulmonary hypertension

    Time frame: 12 months

  7. Number of infants that show presence of pulmonary hypertension

    Time frame: 18 months

  8. Number of infants that show presence of pulmonary hypertension

    Time frame: 24 months

  9. Number of infants that show need for supplemental oxygen

    Time frame: 6 months

  10. Number of infants that show need for supplemental oxygen

    Time frame: 12 months

  11. Number of infants that show need for supplemental oxygen

    Time frame: 18 months

  12. Number of infants that show need for supplemental oxygen

    Time frame: 24 months

  13. Number of infants that show periventricular leukomalacia

    Time frame: At less than 2 months postnatally

  14. Number of Infants that develop sepsis

    Time frame: 6 months

  15. Number of Infants that develop sepsis

    Time frame: 12 months

  16. Number of Infants that develop sepsis

    Time frame: 18 months

  17. Number of Infants that develop sepsis

    Time frame: 24 months

  18. Number of infants that develop Intraventricular hemorrhage (grade 0-III)

    Time frame: 6 months

  19. Number of infants that develop Intraventricular hemorrhage (grade 0-III)

    Time frame: 12 months

  20. Number of infants that develop Intraventricular hemorrhage (grade 0-III)

    Time frame: 18 months

  21. Number of infants that develop Intraventricular hemorrhage (grade 0-III)

    Time frame: 24 months

  22. Number of infants that develop retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or higher)

    Time frame: 6 months

  23. Number of infants that develop retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or higher)

    Time frame: 12 months

  24. Number of infants that develop retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or higher)

    Time frame: 18 months

  25. Number of infants that develop retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or higher)

    Time frame: 24 months

  26. Number of infants that develop gastro-esophageal reflux

    Time frame: 6 months

  27. Number of infants that develop gastro-esophageal reflux

    Time frame: 12 months

  28. Number of infants that develop gastro-esophageal reflux

    Time frame: 18 months

  29. Number of infants that develop gastro-esophageal reflux

    Time frame: 24 months

  30. Number of infant hospital readmissions

    Time frame: End of study (24 months)

  31. Cause of infant hospital readmissions

    Time frame: End of study (24 months)

  32. Number of infants that show childhood growth failure

    Time frame: 6 months

  33. Number of infants that show childhood growth failure

    Time frame: 12 months

  34. Number of infants that show childhood growth failure

    Time frame: 18 months

  35. Number of infants that show childhood growth failure

    Time frame: 24 months

  36. Number of infants that show recurrence of CDH repair

    Time frame: 6 months

  37. Number of infants that show recurrence of CDH repair

    Time frame: 12 months

  38. Number of infants that show recurrence of CDH repair

    Time frame: 18 months

  39. Number of infants that show recurrence of CDH repair

    Time frame: 24 months

  40. Number of infants that develop bowel obstruction

    Time frame: 6 months

  41. Number of infants that develop bowel obstruction

    Time frame: 12 months

  42. Number of infants that develop bowel obstruction

    Time frame: 18 months

  43. Number of infants that develop bowel obstruction

    Time frame: 24 months

  44. Number of infants that show neurodevelopmental delay as assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III(BSID)

    Time frame: 24 months

    Three domains will be measured as follows: Cognitive Scale, Language Scale (Receptive and Expressive) and Motor Scale (Fine and Gross Motor Skills). Scores are derived by converting raw scores from completed tasks into scale scores and composite scores. These scores are then utilized to assess the child's performance in relation to norms established based on typically developing children of the same age

    Mean score of 100 (SD=15) at the 50th percentile signifies mid-average functioning.

    Scores below 85 (1 SD below the mean), at the 16th percentile, indicate mild impairment of being 'at risk' of developmental delay.

    Score below 70 (2 SD below the mean), at the second percentile, indicate moderate to severe impairment.

    In general, scores falling in the lowest 10th percentile indicate developmental delay

  45. Number of infants that develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia

    Time frame: 6 months

  46. Number of infants that develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia

    Time frame: 12 months

  47. Number of infants that develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia

    Time frame: 18 months

  48. Number of infants that develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia

    Time frame: 24 months

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Ahmet Baschat, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

410-502-6561

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Other

Collaborators

  • KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc.

Registry information

Official study title

North American Fetal Therapy Network Prospective Registry for Long-term Outcome Following Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion in Severe Left and Right Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2031
First posted
Sep 10, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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