Usefulness of postmortem computed tomography when neonatal death occurred after fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion-...

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is associated with high risk of neonatal death. It is observed in about 1 in 3,000 live births. Fetoscopic tracheal occlusion procedure is a therapeutic option with survival rate 46.4%. Our aim was analysis of the suitability of postmortem computed tomography in the case of neonatal death occurred after fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion performed due to the severe isolated left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Postmortem computed tomography can be helpful in such cases because it allows for an objective assessment of whether the procedures used after the birth of the newborn enabled effective lung ventilation. Our case was the first use of postmortem computed tomography in neonatal death after fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion worldwide.