MOST infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia die because their lungs are inadequate to support extrauterine life. This remains true despite advances in postnatal care, including preoperative stabilization,1 , 2 pharmacologic treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn,3 , 4 and temporary support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.5 , 6 Recently, prenatal diagnosis has allowed us to define the natural history of fetal diaphragmatic hernia better: approximately 75 percent of fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia detected before birth die despite optimal postnatal care.7 8 9 10 11 The neonatal outcome is related to the degree of pulmonary hypoplasia from in utero lung compression, which is determined by the timing and volume . . .
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Harrison et al. (1990) studied this question.