title: Neonatal diaphragmatic hernia. An improving outlook with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
abstract: In a 15-year period, 89 newborns were treated for congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The patients were divided into three groups, depending on postoperative therapeutic support available: group 1, ventilator therapy only; group 2, ventilator therapy plus pulmonary vasodilators (tolazoline hydrochloride); and group 3, ventilators, tolazoline, and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The three groups were identical for presenting symptoms, signs, and preoperative blood gas determinations. The survival for each group was as follows: group 1, 17 (40%) of 42; group 2, 14 (45%) of 31; and group 3, 12 (75%) of 16. Complications requiring further operations were identical. All survivors in groups 1 and 2 are normal developmentally, while one of five group 3 ECMO survivors has developmental delay and another has long-term ventilator dependence. These data suggest that ECMO, an invasive technique for newborn respiratory failure, improves survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010107:Oxygenators, Membrane; D011379:Prognosis; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents