Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), observed in about 1 in 3,000 live births, is associated with high risk of neonatal death due to severe pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension [1, 2]. Fetoscopic tracheal occlusion procedure (FETO) was introduced for the treatment of severe CDH in 2004 [3]. In Poland FETO was implemented successfully in 2014 and the survival rate (46.4%) is similar to that reported in other centres [4].

A common complication of FETO is preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM), but one of the most dangerous is unsuccessful balloon removal in neonate [5]. In the study of Deprest’s team the incidence of preterm, prelabor rupture of membranes was higher among women in the FETO group than among those in the expectant care group (47% vs. 11%; relative risk, 4.51; 95% CI, 1.83 to 11.9), as was the incidence of preterm birth (75% vs. 29%; relative risk, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.59 to 4.52). One neonatal death occurred because of failed balloon removal (1 of 40 infants) [5].

It is well known that traditional autopsy methods in cases of neonatal death have many limitations. One of the examples is usually advanced postmortem changes in the brain. Our aim was to analyze the suitability of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) in the case of neonatal death occurred after FETO performed due to the severe isolated left-sided CDH.