NUCLEATED ERYTHROCYTE COUNT IN NEWBORN-INFANTS WITH LEFT-SIDED CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC-HERNIA - RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEED FOR EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE-OXYGENATION AND SURVIVAL

Inadequate cardiac output in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphr agmatic hernia may cause chronic hypoxia and increased erythropoiesis. Postnatal nucleated erythrocyte counts were measured in 28 newborn in fants with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia who were eligibl e for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Nucleated erythrocyt e counts were lowest in infants who survived without ECMO, intermediat e in survivors requiring ECMO, and highest in infants who died despite ECMO.