Survival outcome in severe left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia with and without fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion in a country with suboptimal neonatal management

Objective To evaluate the impact of fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) on improving survival of fetuses with severe left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), as compared with contemporaneous cases managed expectantly during pregnancy, in a country with suboptimal neonatal management. Methods In this prospective cohort study, consecutive fetuses with isolated left-sided CDH, normal karyotype and severe pulmonary hypoplasia (defined as liver herniation and observed/expected lung-to-head circumference ratio below 26%) were selected for FETO at less than 32 weeks of gestation in a single tertiary referral center in Queretaro, Mexico. Postnatal outcome (survival up to 28 days after birth) was compared between fetuses treated with FETO and contemporaneous cases with similar lung size managed expectantly during pregnancy. Results Twenty-five fetuses with isolated severe left-sided CDH treated with FETO were matched individually with 25 cases managed expectantly during pregnancy. Endotracheal placement of the balloon was performed successfully on the first attempt in all cases. The median gestational age (GA) at balloon placement was 29.1 (range, 25.6-31.8) weeks and 34.1 (range, 30.0-36.1) weeks at balloon removal. There were no technical problems with the introduction or removal of the balloon in any cases. The median GA at delivery was significantly lower in the group treated with FETO than in those managed expectantly (35.3vs37.7 weeks;P = 0.04). The survival rate was significantly higher in the group treated with FETO than in those without fetal intervention (32%vs0%;P < 0.001). Conclusion In settings with suboptimal neonatal management, FETO was associated with improved neonatal survival in fetuses with isolated left-sided CDH and severe pulmonary hypoplasia. Copyright (c) 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.