CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC-HERNIA - IN-UTERO THERAPY AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Despite advances in neonatal medicine, the mortality rate for congenit al diaphragmatic hernia remains high. The results of work in animal mo dels suggest that this anomaly may be amenable to in utero surgical co rrection. In this article, the natural history of congenital diaphragm atic hernia in humans is reviewed, and the development of antenatal ma nagement strategies is traced. The ethical issues surrounding the mana gement of fetuses with diaphragmatic hernias are also discussed. The g round-breaking nature of the development of strategies for management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia underscores the importance of estab lishing scientific and ethical guidelines for future endeavors with in utero therapy.