Tracheoscopic endoluminal plugging using an inflatable device in the fetal lamb model1Presented, in part, at the Society of Perinatal Obstetricians, 16th Annual Meeting, Hawaii, February 4–10, 1996. Recipient of Research Excellence Award.1

OBJECTIVE: Intra-uterine tracheal occlusion has been proposed to reverse pulmonary hypoplasia, an important prognostic factor in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and pulmonary effects of tracheoscopic tracheal obstruction with a detachable balloon. STUDY DESIGN: Fourteen mid-trimester fetuses out of 24 in 13 ewes underwent tracheoscopic balloon obstruction. Ten non-operated fetuses served as controls. …