Can a tiny balloon in the womb save babies born with a hole in their diaphragm?
NCT ID NCT06884423
First seen Jul 22, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests a procedure called FETO (fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion) for babies diagnosed before birth with a severe form of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). In CDH, a hole in the diaphragm lets abdominal organs push into the chest, preventing the lungs from growing. The FETO procedure involves placing a detachable balloon in the baby's windpipe to temporarily block it, which may force the lungs to expand and grow. The study compares survival and long-term outcomes between babies who receive FETO and those who receive standard care without the procedure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a detachable balloon placed in the fetal windpipe to block it temporarily, allowing the lungs to grow before birth
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this procedure could offer a way to improve survival for babies with the most severe forms of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a condition that is often fatal at birth.
- What could go wrong
- This is an invasive prenatal procedure with risks to both mother and fetus, including preterm labor, membrane rupture, and complications from balloon placement or removal. The trial is still testing whether the benefits outweigh these risks.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 80 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Expected to finish
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Apr 2032
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnant women age 18 years and older 2. Singleton pregnancy 3. Normal fetal karyotype with confirmation by culture results, whole exome sequencing (WES), whole genome sequencing (WGS), or chromosomal microarray with non-pathologic variants. Results by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) will be acceptable if the patient is greater than 26 weeks. 4. Gestational age at enrollment is prior to 29 weeks 6 days 5. Liver is intrathoracic 6. Isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with observed/expected lung to head ratio (O/E LHR) of less than 30% at enrollment (18\^0 to 29\^5 weeks), or: 7. Isolated right CDH with O/E LHR equal to or less than 45% at enrollment (18\^0 to 29\^5 weeks). 8. Cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound equal to or greater than 20 mm within 24 hours of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) procedure 9. Patient meets psychosocial criteria 10. Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patient is less than 18 years of age 2. Multi-fetal pregnancy 3. History of natural rubber latex allergy 4. Preterm labor, cervix shortened (less than 20 mm at enrollment or within 24 hours of FETO balloon insertion procedure) or uterine anomaly strongly predisposing to preterm labor, placenta previa 5. Psychosocial ineligibility, precluding consent: * Inability to reside within 30 minutes of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and inability to comply with the travel for the follow-up requirements of the trial * 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 CHOP 6. Bilateral CDH, isolated left sided CDH with O/E LHR greater than or equal to 30% (measured at 18\^0 to 29\^5 weeks), isolated right sided CDH with O/E LHR greater than 45% (measured at 180 to 295 weeks), as determined by ultrasound 7. No Liver herniation into thoracic cavity. 8. Additional fetal anomaly by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or echocardiogram at the fetal treatment center. Exclude chromosomal abnormalities, associated anomalies recognized to alter survival prognosis (ie. CDH and congenital heart disease) or presence of an underlying genetic syndrome (ie. Fryns). 9. Maternal contraindication to fetoscopic surgery or severe maternal medical condition in pregnancy 10. History of incompetent cervix with or without cerclage 11. Placental abnormalities (previa, abruption, accrete) known at time of enrollment. 12. Maternal-fetal Rh isoimmunization, Kell sensitization or neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia affecting the current pregnancy. 13. 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. 14. Uterine anomaly such as large or multiple fibroids or mullerian duct abnormality 15. There is no safe or technically feasible fetoscopic approach to balloon placement. 16. Participation in another intervention study that influences maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality or participation in this trial in a previous pregnancy.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
RECRUITINGPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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