Recruiting

FETO Procedure

Sponsor:

Johns Hopkins University

Code:

NCT07166172

Conditions

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Congenital Abnormalities

Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Hernia, DIaphragmatic, Congenital

Internal Hernia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Fetal Treatment Arm (FETO Group)

Study Details

Brief summary:

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.

Conditions

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Congenital Abnormalities

Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Hernia, DIaphragmatic, Congenital

Internal Hernia

Study ID

NCT07166172

Start date

Jun 23, 2025

Status verified date

Apr, 2026

Completion date

Dec 1, 2031

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 1, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

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:

1. Inability to reside within 30 minutes of Johns Hopkins Hospital Center for Fetal Therapy.
2. 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.

Study Design

Enrollment

80 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Non randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Fetal Treatment Arm (FETO Group)

no intervention: Expectant Management Arm (Control Group)

Standard of care treatment for babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Interventions

Fetal Treatment Arm (FETO Group)

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.

Primary outcome measure

  • Number of successful placement of FETO device [ Time Frame: 10-60 minutes after surgery begins ]
  • Number of successful removal of FETO device [ Time Frame: Immediately after the procedure (about 1 hour after start of surgery) ]
  • Number of FETO procedure complications [ Time Frame: End of study (24 months) ]
  • Number of neonates that survived [ Time Frame: From delivery to hospital discharge ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Recruiting

Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287

Contacts

Ahmet A. Baschat, MD

410-502-6561abascha1@jhmi.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Last update posted

Apr 23, 2026

Last verified

Apr, 2026

Keywords

  • Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Johns Hopkins University on 2026-04-23.