J Clin Ultrasound

. 2022 Jan 12. doi: 10.1002/jcu.23121. Online ahead of print. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35019149/

Sonographic pulmonary response after tracheal occlusion in fetuses with severe isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Ayssa Teles Abrao Trad ¹, Ricardo Czeresnia ¹, Eniola Ibirogba ², Kavita Narang ¹, Rodrigo Ruano ³Affiliations expand

• PMID: 35019149
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23121

Abstract

Purpose: To report the longitudinal lung growth and prognosis of fetuses with severe left sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) treated with fetoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) in a single institution.

Methods: Fetal lung size (observed-to-expected lung area to head circumference [o/e-LHR]) was measured in seven consecutive fetuses with isolated severe left-sided CDH who underwent FETO. Fetal lung growth was used to prognosticate survival and need for ECMO.

Results: Seven consecutive fetuses had a FETO procedure in the timeframe of this study. A total of 44 longitudinal ultrasound were performed to evaluate lung development. FETO was performed at GA 28.5 ± 0.5 weeks. Five (71.4%) infants survived to one-year follow-up and ECMO was needed in three patients (42.8%). Fetal lung response was observed in all fetuses; mean o/e-LHR increased from 22.5% ± 1.4 before FETO to 44.4% ± 9.8 before delivery. Infants who survived had a higher percentage of fetal lung growth (21.8%) than those who died (8.25%).

Conclusion: Our study supports the hypothesis that FETO promotes fetal lung growth in fetuses with severe left-sided CDH, and the fetal pulmonary response seems to be associated with improved outcomes after the procedure.

Keywords: congenital diaphragmatic hernia; fetal interventions; fetal lungs; fetal tracheal occlusion; prenatal diagnosis; pulmonary hypoplasia; ultrasound.

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