Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: where and what is the evidence?

Abstract

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) retains high mortality and morbidity due to lung hypoplasia, pulmonary hypertension and severe co-existent anomalies. This article offers a comprehensive state-of-the-art review for the paediatric surgeon whilst also describing key contributions from the basic sciences in the search to uncover the cause of the birth defect together with efforts to develop new and better therapies for CDH.

Keywords: Animal models; CDH; Congenital diaphragmatic hernia; ECMO; FETO; Foetal therapy; Genetics; Long-term outcomes; Sildenafil; Surgery; iNO.