Endoscopic in utero tracheal plugging in the fetal lamb to treat congenital diaphragmatic hernia

A case control surgical trial was performed in 13 time-dated pregnant ewes to evaluate the feasibility and pulmonary effects of intratracheal obstruction by an endoscopically positioned balloon. Fifteen fetuses were subjected to tracheoscopic balloon obstruction for progressively longer periods (range 2-18 days). In case of multiple pregnancies, 10 other fetuses were used as negative controls. A 1.2-mm miniscope with a double-lumen sheath and a …