FETO Ballon Retrieval

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This image was created for the Special Delivery Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. It depicts the emergency retrieval of a balloon previously placed in the trachea during a fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) procedure. The balloon was originally placed to allow for better development of the lungs for a fetus with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH); in this case it is left sided. When the child is born slightly prematurely (and before the balloon could be removed before delivery) an emergency surgery must be performed to remove it as quickly as possible so that the newborn can begin breathing. Timing is critical and this image was created to describe the ideal position of each person and their hands while performing the procedure. It was reviewed by Dr. Natalie Rintoul and Dr. Anne Ades.