Anesthetic management of a case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia; delayed diagnosis

Abstract

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia results from the anomalous closure of pericardioperitoneal canal. There are various challenges faced by anesthesiologists during management of such cases which include intraoperative complications including hypoxia and hypercarbia, which leads to pulmonary hypertension and right to left shunt. Mortality remains high because of associated pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. Here, we describe anesthetic management of a 2-month-old female child with difficulty in breathing since birth following feeding, due to congenital diaphragmatic hernia.