The Problem
An infant diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is born with a hole in their diaphragm that permits abdominal organs to invade the chest cavity during early fetal development. Repair of the hernia is typically performed within the first week of birth in one of two manners:
If small enough, the hole can be sutured shut using the child's own diaphragm tissue
In instances the hole is too large, roughly about 51% of cases, a Goretex® or Cormatrix® synthetic patch is used for repair
Reherniation, or tear in the patch, rates for synthetic patch repair of large defects remain high (30-50%) in large part arising from strain on the patch during early childhood growth. Recurrence repair requires additional open-chest surgery for the child at an average cost of $250,000.
The Solution
The goal of this research and its fundraising is to create a "first of its kind" bio-mesh patch material that can organically grow with a CDH child and their diaphragm. It is a material that can be custom fit and laser measured, assuring an optimal fit within the hole in the diaphragm. With this new and specialized material, we hope to drastically reduce the rate of reherniation in children with large diaphragmatic hernias. The team is comprised of world-class bio-mechanical engineers and fetal/pediatric surgeons from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
Join Us
This project is “on the launchpad” for immediate commencement upon satisfaction of funding, and Fore Hadley is in the process of raising $45,000 via a community grassroots campaign to begin this exciting cutting-edge initiative. We are at ground zero, with initial seed funding supporting the study of materials, surgical methodologies, and clinical outcomes within lab animals. Upon successful completion of this phase, the team will then approach organizations like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding the more robust funding needed for human trials and study.
