Feasibility and outcomes of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion for severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A Japanese experience

Fetal Endoscopic Tracheal Occlusion (FETO) for Left and Right Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in Canada

OBJECTIVE

To describe perinatal and short-term pediatric outcomes and procedural safety of fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) in a Canadian national referral centre.

METHODS

Retrospective study including all consecutive FETO cases at the Ontario Fetal Centre between 2010 and 2024. Maternal and fetal baseline characteristics, technical aspects and short-term outcomes until 6 months are described.

RESULTS

FETO was successfully performed in 47/48 (98%) cases at an average gestational age (GA) of 28.5 (24-31.6) weeks including 22 (47%) moderate LCDH (M-LCDH), 12 (25%) severe LCDH (S-LCDH) and 13 (28%) right CDH (RCDH). There were no major complications. Balloon removals were emergent in 23/46 (50%) and challenging in 14/46 (30%) of cases. Preterm premature rupture of membranes (< 37 weeks) occurred in 70% (33/47) with average GA at birth of 35.9 weeks (29.0-40.4 weeks). Survival to discharge was 54% (25/46), specifically 64% (14/22), 33% (4/12), and 58% (7/12) among M-LCDH, S-LCDH and RCDH, respectively. Patch repair was performed in 28/30 (93%). Supplemental oxygen and tube feeding were required in 32% (8/25) and 68% (15/22) of survivors at discharge, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this North American series, FETO outcomes were similar to those observed in international trials, confirming its effectiveness. Studies are ongoing to evaluate long-term outcomes.

Feasibility, safety, and outcome of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion for severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia at a low case-load center: one center's experience

BACKGROUND

Antenatal fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) has been introduced as an effective intervention to improve the outcome of severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

OBJECTIVE

We report our early experience with FETO.

DESIGN

A retrospective chart review of case series.

SETTING

Tertiary health care center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

18-45 years old, with single fetuses diagnosed with left severe CDH (lung-head ratio <1 measured between 27-29 weeks of gestational age (GA) and liver up or observed/expected lung-to-head ratio <25%, normal echocardiogram and karyotype were included. FETO was performed between 28-30 weeks of gestation and removed after 4-6 weeks or at birth during an ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

FETO represents a viable option for severe type of CDH fetuses with reasonable outcomes. FETO performance in low volume centers may be feasible with reasonable outcomes. Good outcome of postnatal care with no potential antenatal complications may affect FETO adoption in some societies.

SAMPLE SIZE

5.

RESULTS

14 pregnant women were referred for assessment and only 7 met the inclusion criteria. Two were excluded initially (late referral and spouse refusal) and a 3rd excluded later due to failure of FETO due to faulty balloons. The median age of the mothers was 28 years and the gestational age was 29 weeks. Median observed/expected lung-to-head ratio was 23%. Among patients who had successful FETO, one had the balloon removed fetoscopically 4 weeks after insertion and one was removed 8 weeks after insertion during an elective EXIT procedure and both have survived. The other two had premature labor after 1 and 5 weeks after FETO and balloon removed during an emergency EXIT procedures, and both died within 24 hours of birth.

CONCLUSION

FETO represents a viable option for severe type of CDH fetuses with reasonable outcome. FETO performance in a low volume centers may be feasible with reasonable outcomes. Good outcome of postnatal care with no potential antenatal complications may affect FETO adoption in some societies.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective nature of the study may imply inaccuracy, but we believe data from electronic medical records is highly accurate.

Postnatal care setting and survival after fetoscopic tracheal occlusion for severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) was recently shown to improve postnatal survival in a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of infants with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). However, the external validity of this study remains unclear given a lack of standardization in postnatal management approaches. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an integrated prenatal and postnatal care setting on survival outcomes in severe CDH after FETO.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic review, meta-analysis, and individual participant analysis of FETO outcomes in severe CDH were conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. Subgroup analyses of patients managed in integrated versus nonintegrated settings were performed to identify predictors of outcome.

RESULTS

The review generated five studies (n = 192) for the meta-analysis of FETO versus expectant prenatal management. These data revealed a significant survival benefit after FETO that was restricted to an integrated setting (OR 2.97, 95% Confidence Interval 1.69-4.26). There were nine studies (n = 150) for the individual participant analysis, which showed that FETO managed in an integrated setting had significantly increased survival rates when compared to FETO treated in a nonintegrated setting (70.7% vs. 45.7%, p = 0.003). Multi-level logistic regression identified increased availability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as the strongest determinant of postnatal survival (OR=18.8, p = 0.049).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review shows that institutional integration of prenatal and postnatal care is associated with the highest overall survival in children with severe CDH. These data highlight the importance of a standardized, multidisciplinary approach, including access to ECMO, as a critical postnatal component in optimizing FETO outcomes in CDH.

New challenges of fetal therapy in Japan

Aim

To review new challenges of fetal therapy in Japan after the establishment of four existing fetal therapies as standard prenatal care with National Health Insurance coverage over the past 20 years.

Methods

Reported studies and our current research activities related to four fetal therapies newly performed in Japan were reviewed.

Results

Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) aims to occlude the trachea using a detachable balloon to promote lung growth. Following the recent successful completion of an international randomized controlled trial for CDH, in which we participated, FETO is offered for severe left CDH to perform balloon insertion at 27–29 weeks and removal at 34 weeks of gestation. Fetal cystoscopy (FC) for low urinary tract obstruction was introduced to overcome the demerits of vesicoamniotic shunting. FC may provide a proper diagnosis by visual observation of the urethra and physiological treatment of the posterior urethral valve. The effectiveness of open fetal surgery for myelomeningocele (MMC), direct surgery with laparotomy and hysterotomy, for ameliorating hindbrain herniation and the motor function was demonstrated, but it was also associated with substantial maternal and fetal risks. Fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV), ultrasound‐guided fetal aortic balloon dilation for critical aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome may improve left heart development and maintain biventricular circulation. Feasibility and safety studies for FC, MMC open fetal surgery, and FAV are currently ongoing.

Conclusions

Clinical research on FETO, FC, MMC open fetal surgery, and FAV has proceeded with careful preparations in Japan.

Prediction of neonatal survival according to lung-to-head ratio in fetuses with right congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH): A multicentre study from the Latin American CDH Study Group registry

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate survival outcomes of fetuses with right sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) treated in Latin American centres and to assess the utility of left lung area to predict neonatal survival.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort including isolated right sided CDH cases managed expectantly during pregnancy in six tertiary centers from five Latin American countries. The utility of the observed/expected lung-to-head ratio (O/E-LHR) in predicting neonatal survival was assessed, and the best cut-off to predict prognosis was automatically selected by decision tree analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 99 right sided CDH cases were recruited, 58 isolated fetuses were selected at a median gestational age of 26.2 weeks, showing an overall survival rate of 26.2%. A linear trend was observed between survival and the O/E-LHR, showing that at higher O/E-LHR, the greater probability of survival (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). O/E-LHR discriminates two groups with different survival outcomes: fetuses with an O/E-LHR ≥65% showed a significantly higher survival rate than those with an O/E-LHR <65% (81.8% vs. 15.6%, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall survival rate in right sided CDH is lower in Latin American countries. The severity category of pulmonary hypoplasia should be classified according to lung area and the survival rate in such population.