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Diaphragmatic Hernia
How is it treated?
Most UK units stabilise the baby in Intensive Care on a ventilator, so that the lungs and heart can be assessed. The baby is often kept for several days until the optimal moment for surgical repair is reached.
Most surgeons repair the hole in the diaphragm via the abdomen. If there is enough diaphragm, the two edges of the hole are stitched together. If not, then a patch has to be inserted. Depending on the material used for the patch, this may not grow and may need replacement. Post operatively, the baby will be more ill than before, because of the stress of the operation. After several days, or even weeks, if the lungs are good enough, then the baby can be weaned off the ventilator and will go home.
There has been some success with prenatal surgery in one unit in the USA, but it will probably never be routine, even in the USA.
Background
| Inheritance patterns and prenatal diagnosis 
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