[Congenital hernia of the diaphragm. A retrospective study of 123 cases recorded in the Neonatal Medicine Department, URHC in Lille between 1985 and 1996].
BACKGROUND
During the last ten years, new therapeutic strategies have been used in order to improve the management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). CDH is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia, abnormal pulmonary vascular reactivity and pulmonary immaturity. Between 1985 and 1990, mechanical hyperventilation and early surgery were provided systematically. Since 1991, the management of CDH in our institution has involved a preoperative stabilization with exogenous surfactant replacement, gentle ventilation, high-frequency oscillation, nitric oxide or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the impact of the new therapeutic strategy on the survival and outcome of newborns with CDH.


METHODS
Retrospective review of all infants with CDH admitted to our institution from 1985 through 1996. Mortality and morbidity were compared between period I (1985-1990) and period II (1991-1996).


RESULTS
Between 1985 and 1996, 123 neonates were admitted to our Neonatal Department. Nine of them had another severe congenital malformation and were excluded from the study. Survival was 23% (12/52) in period I and 56% (35/62) in period II (p < 0.001). In period II, complications were more frequent among survivors in whom an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required (13 infants): bronchopulmonary dysplasia 77% (10/13), gastroesophageal reflux 61% (8/13), and hypotrophy 61% (8/13).


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate a significant improvement in survival in CDH since the implementation of new therapeutic modalities. Nevertheless, a significant morbidity exists among the infants who survive a severe respiratory failure.
Dubois
A
A
Service de médecine néonatale, hôpital Jeanne-de-Flandre, CHRU, Lille, France.
Storme
L
L
Jaillard
S
S
Truffert
P
P
Riou
Y
Y
Rakza
T
T
Pierrat
V
V
Gottrand
F
F
Pruvot
F R
FR
Leclerc
F
F
Lequien
P
P
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D005602:France; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000151:congenital; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006611:High-Frequency Jet Ventilation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000151:congenital; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide