What is the best treatment for congenital diaphragmatic hernia CDH?
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Treatment
- We understand the urgency of a CDH diagnosis.
- Our fetal surgeons are leading experts in fetoscopic endotracheal occlusion (FETO) surgeries in the U.S. This minimally invasive prenatal procedure can improve breathing in babies with severe CDH.
What is the treatment of diaphragmatic hernia?
Treatment. A diaphragmatic hernia repair requires surgery. Surgery is done to place the abdominal organs into the proper position and repair the opening in the diaphragm. The infant will need breathing support during the recovery period.
Can CDH babies live a normal life?
Lungs in these babies with a mild form of CDH will still be smaller than normal, but they have the chance to grow and adapt for many years. Many of these children can lead normal, active lives without long-term problems.
What is the life expectancy of CDH?
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs in about one in every 2,200 births. About 85% of these defects occur on the left side. CDH can also affect the right side of the diaphragm and, in rare situations, both sides. Overall survival of CDH babies in the United States is approximately 65 70%.
Does CDH run in families?
We do know that sometimes it tends to run in families, primarily with genetic problems and other anomalies. Studies also show that certain environmental factors might cause CDH; such as exposure to chemicals like Nitrofen or pesticides, imbalanced Vitamin A and Folic Acid.
Does CDH require surgery?
Many babies with CDH will require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which uses a pump to circulate blood through an artificial lung and back into the bloodstream of the baby. The surgery is done while your child is under general anesthesia (asleep and not able to feel pain).
Can you live with a diaphragmatic hernia?
According to current research, the overall survival rate for congenital diaphragmatic hernias is 70-90 percent. The survival rate for an ADH correlates directly with the type of injury, age, and overall health of the individual, as well as the severity of the hernia based on the size and other organs involved.
How do babies get diaphragmatic hernia?
While the causes of diaphragmatic hernia in most infants are unknown, researchers believe that some instances of diaphragmatic hernia may be caused by abnormalities in the baby’s genes. Understanding the factors that are more common among babies with a birth defect will help us learn more about the causes.