FETO: Trap the Fluid, Grow the Lungs
Carousel1 min read·Published Oct 2026

FETO: Trap the Fluid, Grow the Lungs

Diagram showing fetal tracheal balloon occlusion procedure to promote lung growth in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Educational slide warning against over-torquing the scope during fetal surgery procedures.
Anatomical landmarks guide for neonatal intubation from nose to carina with balloon placement verification steps.
Blue slide summarizing FETO procedure complexity: scope navigates uterine wall, balloon placement requires verification.
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Carousel · Oct 2026 · 1 min read

In brief

In brief

Educational carousel explaining Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO), a prenatal intervention for severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The procedure temporarily blocks the fetal trachea to trap lung fluid and stimulate pulmonary growth before birth, improving outcomes in cases of severe pulmonary hypoplasia.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the carousel.

Slides

6 pages · click to turn to one

A clinical comparison chart displaying three treatment modalities in vertical columns with icons, percentage metrics, and outcome indicators. Each column uses distinct color coding and includes graphical representations of success rates, complication data, and patient ambulation outcomes. The layout emphasizes quantitative comparisons between surgical techniques.

Fetal surgery. A social-media carousel made possible by Cincinnati Children's.
The text in the image

Pediatric Achalasia: Surgical Approach Comparison | Heller Myotomy | 78% Success | Esophageal Dilatation | 45% Success | POEM | 99% Success | Complication Rates | Training Requirements | Ambulation Rates: 71-83% with cells vs 20% without | In Utero Myelomeningocele Repair | Human Placental Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Lines | Lines A and B | Neuroprotection | Robotic vs Laparoscopic Surgery | Pediatric Patients | Clinical Advantages | Limitations | Technique Selection

The text on each slide
  1. Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | 2 RULES FOR FETO | That's the tip of a baby's nose. The baby is still in the womb. | One trocar through mom's abdomen and a scope into her unborn child's airway. This is FETO, and two rules govern every move.
  2. Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | 1. TRAP THE FLUID. 2. GROW THE LUNGS. | A balloon in the fetal trachea keeps fluid in the lungs — so they expand and grow. | what we are preventing: pulmonary hypoplasia, a major driver of poor outcomes in CDH.
  3. Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | RULE 1 – TRAP THE FLUID | CAUTION: DON'T OVER-TORQUE THE SCOPE. | The baby's head often isn't lined up with the scope, so the instinct is to twist. Resist it. | Remember what you're passing through: the abdominal wall and the uterine wall. Excessive turning risks membrane damage. | 💡 USE THE FLUID CHANNEL INSTEAD | Pulse it on and off to push tissue away and advance — no torque needed.
  4. Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | RULE 2 – GROW THE LUNGS | HOW TO CONFIRM: ALWAYS ADVANCE TO THE CARINA. | FETO video | Beth Rymeski, DO | Pediatric Surgeon / Cincinnati Children's | The carina isn't a landmark. It's proof.
  5. Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | THE ROAD MAP: NOSE TO CARINA — THE LANDMARKS. | Nose → mouth — upper lip, lower lip | Tongue — the easy one. It's bumpy. | Epiglottis — orients you before the cords | Through the cords → carina — confirm trachea | Balloon: back the scope up as it inflates — watch it fill in the main trachea, not off to one side | 0.65–0.8 mL water, per tracheal size | Final check: balloon sits below the cords
  6. Made possible by Cincinnati Children's | THE TAKEAWAY | In FETO, the scope is never just in an airway. Every turn is also a turn through the uterine wall — and every balloon needs proof, not assumption. | Full video — link in bio. | GC
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