Congenital diaphragmatic hernia and eventration.

A review of 52 consecutive cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia composed of 36 cases of Bochdalek hernia (B.H.) 13 of diaphragmatic eventration (D.E.), and 3 of diaphragmatic agenesis (D.A.) is reviewed critically. The operative mortality rate in Bochdalek hernia was 8.3% but became 20% with reference to the 15 infants with B.H. operated in the first 24 hrs. of life and 31.5% with reference to all 19 infants requiring repair of the diaphragmatic defect during the first day after birth. The operative mortality in D.A. was 100% and was nil in D.E. The mortality appeared related directly to prematurity, early age at operation, preoperative hypoxemia (PaO2 less than or equal to 60), hypercarbia, (PaCO2 greater than or equal to 60), and acidosis (pH less than or equal to 7.0), association with life-threatening anomalies affecting the lungs and its vessels, the heart, the size of the diaphragmatic defect and of the celomic cavity, the postoperative development of NEC and of obstructing intestinal adhesions. Eight of the 33 survivors (24%) with B.H. developed intestinal obstruction secondary to adhesions 2 months to 14 years after operation, of whom 7 required surgical intervention, and 3 bowel resections. The total mortality rate in B.H. was 14% and the rate in this series of combined defects was 15%.