CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC-HERNIA AND PROFOUND PREMATURITY - REPORT OF A SURVIVOR

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) continues to be one of the most challenging problems in pediatric surgery. The overall mortality rate remains at 40%, and death is caused by pulmonary hypoplasia and persis tent pulmonary hypertension, It has been suggested that in utero repai r of the defect should be performed to allow the lungs to grow and dev elop, in the hope of preventing fatal pulmonary insufficiency. The aut hors report the survival of a 960-g premature infant with CDH, suggest ing that ex utero repair is possible in a very low birth weight infant . Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company