title: Maternal congenital diaphragmatic hernia complicating pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Symptomatic maternal diaphragmatic hernia in a pregnant woman is a surgical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality both for her and her fetus. Such patients are most commonly managed with immediate cesarean delivery combined with hernia repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  A woman presented at 29 weeks' gestation with symptoms of bowel obstruction due to herniation of viscera through a previously undiagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia of Bochdalek, and she was stabilized. Antenatal corticosteroids were administered to facilitate fetal maturity. The hernia was repaired 10 days after her presentation because of evidence of incarceration. Labor was induced at 39 weeks' gestation, and a healthy infant was delivered vaginally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expectant management and vaginal delivery after antepartum repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the mother is a reasonable alternative to immediate cesarean delivery.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. mgencmd@yahoo.com
authors: Mehmet R
authors: MR
authors: Genc
authors: Thomas E
authors: TE
authors: Clancy
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Ferzoco
authors: Errol
authors: E
authors: Norwitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery