Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07577414

Safety and Efficacy of Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO) in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

The purpose of the study is to determine if babies with left or right-sided CDH that undergo the FETO procedure survive more often and have fewer long-term complications than babies that have similar left or right-sided CDH that elect not to have the FETO procedure performed during pregnancy.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Erin Perrone, MD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Irene Carter

CONTACT

[email protected]

734-615-3883

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

FETO Intervention Arm: Inclusion Criteria:

  • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
  • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability (meets psychosocial criteria below) for the duration of the study
  • Pregnant women, age 18 years and older
  • Singleton pregnancy
  • Normal fetal karyotype, Chromosomal Microarray (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.
  • Gestational age at enrollment prior to 29w6d
  • Fetal CDH with intrathoracic liver herniation with either:
  • Isolated left CDH with Observed/Expected (o/e) Lung to Head Ratio (LHR) <30% at enrollment (18w0d-29w5d)
  • Isolated right CDH with o/e LHR <45% at enrollment (18w0d-29w5d)
  • Cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound >20 mm within 24hours of FETO procedure
  • Meets psychosocial criteria
  • Willing to reside within 30 minutes of Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital and ability to maintain follow up appointments
  • Patient has a support person (e.g. spouse, partner, friend, parent) that is available to stay with participant for the duration of the pregnancy near Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital
  • Willing to comply with restrictions of daily living including inability to exercise, have intercourse, or return to work (work from home approved by Principal Investigator is okay)

Expectant Management Arm: Inclusion Criteria:

  • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
  • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability (meets psychosocial criteria below) for the duration of the study
  • Pregnant women, age 18 years and older
  • Singleton pregnancy
  • Normal fetal karyotype, CMA with non-pathologic variants, WES or WGS. Results by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) will be acceptable if the patient is >26 weeks. (non-intervention arm can have karyotype or microarray prenatally or postnatally)
  • Gestational age at enrollment prior to 29w6d
  • Fetal CDH with intrathoracic liver herniation with either:
  • Isolated left CDH with o/e LHR <30% at enrollment (18w0d-29w5d)
  • Isolated right CDH with o/e LHR <45% at enrollment (18w0d-29w5d)
  • Meets psychosocial criteria
  • Ability to maintain follow up appointments

FETO Intervention Arm: Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient <18 years of age
  • Multi-fetal pregnancy
  • History of natural rubber latex allergy
  • Preterm labor, short cervix (<20mm within 24 hours of FETO balloon insertion procedure), or uterine anomaly strongly predisposing to preterm labor, placenta previa
  • History of incompetent cervix with or without cerclage
  • Psychosocial ineligibility
  • Inability to reside within 30 minutes of Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital or inability to maintain follow up appointments
  • Social work will meet with each patient to evaluate the social situation and support system. Identifiable issues of social instability or compliance with the protocol will exclude participant as a potential candidate (per protocol).
  • Bilateral CDH, isolated Left Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (LCDH) with o/e LHR > 30% (measured at 180 to 295 weeks), isolated Right Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (RCDH) with o/e LHR >45% (measured at 180 to 295 weeks) as determined by ultrasound
  • No liver herniation into the thoracic cavity.
  • Additional fetal anomaly or genetic/chromosomal abnormalities recognized to alter survival prognosis (i.e., congenital heart disease) or presence of an underlying genetic syndrome (i.e. Fryns) by ultrasound, MRI or echocardiogram at the fetal treatment center.
  • Maternal contraindications to elective fetoscopic surgery or severe maternal medical condition in pregnancy
  • Placental abnormalities (previa, abruption, accreta) known at time of enrollment and/or surgery
  • Maternal-fetal Rh isoimmunization, Kell sensitization, or neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia affecting the current pregnancy
  • Maternal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B with positive surface antigen, Hepatitis C with presence of virus in maternal blood due to risk of fetal transmission during the procedure. If the patient's HIV or Hepatitis status is unknown, the patient must be tested and found to have negative results before enrollment
  • No safe or technically feasible fetoscopic approach to balloon placement
  • Uterine anomalies such as large fibroids or Mullerian duct abnormality
  • Participation in another intervention study that influences maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality or participation in this trial in a previous pregnancy

Expectant Management Arm: Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient <18 years of age
  • Multi-fetal pregnancy
  • Preterm labor, short cervix (<20mm), or uterine anomaly strongly predisposing to preterm labor, placenta previa
  • History of incompetent cervix with or without cerclage
  • Psychosocial ineligibility
  • Inability to maintain follow up appointments
  • Social work will meet with each patient to evaluate the social situation and support system. Identifiable issues of social instability or compliance with the protocol will exclude participant as a potential candidate.
  • Bilateral CDH, isolated LCDH with o/e LHR > 30% (measured at 180 to 295 weeks), isolated RCDH with o/e LHR >45% (measured at 180 to 295 weeks), or any isolated CDH without intrathoracic liver herniation as determined by ultrasound
  • Additional fetal anomaly or genetic/chromosomal abnormalities recognized to alter survival prognosis (i.e. congenital heart disease) or presence of an underlying genetic syndrome (i.e. Fryns) by ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or echocardiogram at the fetal treatment center Placental abnormalities (per protocol)
  • 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

FETO with Goldballoon Detachable Balloon (GOLDBAL2) along with the delivery Microcatheter (BALTACCI-BDPE100)

Device

This will take place between gestation of 27w0d - 29w6d. The balloon will be removed at approximately 34 weeks gestation.

Primary outcomes

  1. Compare neonatal survival to discharge in LCDH

    Time frame: 6-12 months (birth to discharge)

  2. Compare neonatal survival to discharge in RCDH

    Time frame: 6-12 months (birth to discharge)

  3. Number of successful placements the of FETO balloon Gestational age of 27 weeks 0 days gestation to 29 weeks 6 days gestation

    Time frame: 27weeks 0 days gestation to 29 weeks 6 days gestation

  4. Number of successful retrievals/puncture of the FETO balloon Gestational age of 33 weeks 0 days to 35 weeks 0 days

    Time frame: Removal prior to delivery at approximately 34 weeks of gestation

  5. Number of FETO procedure complications

    Time frame: Balloon placement to delivery (27 weeks up to delivery approximately 40 weeks)

    FETO procedure complications include: Failure of the 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; Preterm premature rupture of membranes; Preterm delivery; Chorioamnion separation; Chorioamnionitis; Polyhydramnios; Oligohydramnios; Emergent removal due to obstetrical complication; Failed percutaneous or fetoscopic removal requiring cesarean section or Ex-Utero Intrapartum Therapy(EXIT) procedure for removal; Neonatal death due to asphyxia if delivery before FETO removal; Non-reassuring fetal heart rate monitoring.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Fetal lung growth difference on MRI via o/e Total Fetal Lung Volume (TFLV) (FETO Intervention Arm)

    Time frame: Baseline (prior to balloon placement) and approximately 2 weeks after balloon retrieval

    Fetal MRI done prior to balloon placement and again done at approximately 2 weeks of balloon retrieval. Fetal lung growth (difference between 1st and 2nd MRIs will be calculated for FETO intervention arm only).

  2. Fetal lung growth difference based on prenatal ultrasound via o/e LHR (Both Arms)

    Time frame: Baseline (prior to balloon placement) and immediately prior to balloon removal and SOC arm 29 + 1 week and 34 +1 week

    Prenatal ultrasound (US) will measure the o/e LHR at weekly visits while the balloon is in place (FETO intervention arm) or at routine visits per standard of care (SOC) (expectant arm). Fetal lung growth will be calculated as the difference between the o/e LHR pre- balloon placement (or 29 + 1 week in control) and the o/e LHR immediately prior to balloon removal/puncture (or 34 + 1 week in control).

  3. Long-term outcome measure infant survival rate

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  4. Presence of pulmonary hypertension

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

    Determination of the ratio of the tricuspid regurgitation jet (estimation of the right ventricular systolic pressure) to systemic blood pressure where the is an objective measurement used to estimate the pulmonary artery pressure. Will be recorded as absent/none, systemic or suprasystemic.

  5. Presence of need for supplemental oxygen

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  6. Periventricular leukomalacia at <2 months postnatally

    Time frame: After birth at 2 months

  7. Infant sepsis

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  8. Intraventricular hemorrhage (grade 0-III)

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  9. Retinopathy of prematurity (grade 3 or higher)

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  10. Gastroesophageal reflux

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  11. Number and cause of infant hospital readmissions

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  12. Long-term outcome measure childhood growth failure

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

    Childhood growth failure: weight gain velocity or decline >2 in weight, for length Z score.

  13. Recurrence of CDH repair

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  14. Bowel obstruction

    Time frame: After birth at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

  15. Neurodevelopmental delay

    Time frame: 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

    Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development- III(BSID)>2 Standard deviation (SD) below mean, or other categorization at 24 months

  16. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

    Time frame: After birth at 6,12, 18, and 24 months (+ 2 months) of corrected age

Study contacts

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

Erin Perrone, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

734-936-8464

Irene Carter

CONTACT

[email protected]

734-615-3883

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Dr Erin Perrone

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Infant Survival and Long-term Outcome Following Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion in Severe Left and Right Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, A Phase III Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2036
Study completion
2038
First posted
May 11, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 29, 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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.