Clinical analysis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in newborn infants: report of 33 cases

Abstract

Objective To review the clinical experience of diagnosis and treatment of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia in newborn infants. Methods Thirty-three neonates were diagnosed having congenital diaphragmatic hernia in our hospital from Jan. 1,2004 to Sept. 30, 2009. The clinical data was retrospectively reviewed. Results 21 cases were treated surgically and 17 survived, while 4 cases died. The main cause of death was congenital pulmonary dysplasia. Another 12 cases refused to accept surgical treatment and they all died, one died shortly after he was born. Four cases who had been diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography were survived. Conclusion The mortality of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in neonates was still high. Prenatal diagnosis of the congenital diaphragmatic hernia is very important and the cooperation between the obstetrics, neonatology and cardiothoracic surgery will improve the survival rate of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in newborn infants. Key words: Hernia diaphragmatic; Congenital,hereditary, and neonatal diseases and abnormalities