title: Causes of death in operated neonates with diaphragmatic defects.
abstract: The causes for the high mortality in neonates with diaphragmatic hernia are manifold. These cases have to be classified as being in the "fatal zone" of Boix-Ochoa. Analysis of our patients showed that 27 patients belonged to this group, 15 of whom died. The causes of death were hypoplasia of both lungs in 1 case and intracranial haemorrhage in 1. In 6 neonates there were additional complex cardiac malformations and in 1 other severe malformations. The foetal circulation persisted in 3 infants and a tension pneumothorax was the cause in 2, an intestinal obstruction the cause of death in 1 infant. In these 5 last-mentioned children, improvements in treatment might have possibly prevented death.
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D005860:Germany, West; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000601:surgery*; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*