National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology performs first FETO procedure in Vietnam

Doctors at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Vietnam have successfully performed the country’s first FETO (Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion) procedure. The intervention targeted a 30-week-old fetus suffering from congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a condition where abdominal organs move into the chest cavity, compressing the lungs and causing pulmonary hypoplasia.

The FETO technique involves using an endoscope to place a small balloon in the fetal trachea. This temporarily blocks the airway, trapping fluid in the lungs to promote healthy lung development before birth. This complex procedure requires extreme precision to operate on a small, moving fetus within the amniotic sac.

Previously, families facing such severe cases often had to seek expensive treatment abroad, costing over $100,000. The successful mastery of this technique in Vietnam marks a significant advancement in fetal medicine, providing local access to life-saving interventions for high-risk pregnancies.