National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia



Other Names:
CDH; Congenital diaphragmatic defect; Unilateral agenesis of diaphragm; CDH; Congenital diaphragmatic defect; Unilateral agenesis of diaphragm; Agenesis of hemidiaphragm See More
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Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a condition present before birth characterized by abnormal development of the diaphragm. The diaphragm normally separates the organs in the abdomen from those in the chest. The severity of CDH may range from a thinned area in part of the diaphragm, to its complete absence. CDH may allow the stomach and intestines to move through an opening (hernia) into the chest cavity, crowding the heart and lungs. This can then lead to underdevelopment of the lungs (pulmonary hypoplasia), which may cause life-threatening complications.[1] CDH may be associated with several syndromes (some caused by genetic mutations or a chromosome abnormality), it may be associated with other birth defects, or it may occur with no other abnormalities. It is rarely inherited.[1] Treatment options depend on the type and severity of the defect and typically include surgery.[2] Prenatal diagnosis and medical advances have increased the survival rate, but various long-term complications affecting health and development may occur.[3][4]
Last updated: 3/6/2017

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia 0000776
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of cardiovascular system morphology 0030680
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the diaphragm
Absent/small diaprhagm
Absent/underdeveloped diaprhagm
[ more ]
0010315
Hypoxemia
Low blood oxygen level
0012418
Intestinal malrotation 0002566
Prominent sternum 0000884
Pulmonary hypoplasia
Small lung
Underdeveloped lung
[ more ]
0002089
Respiratory distress
Breathing difficulties
Difficulty breathing
[ more ]
0002098
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Multifactorial inheritance 0001426
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) can occur as an isolated finding, as part of a genetic syndrome or chromosome abnormality, or with additional birth defects of unknown cause.[5] Some cases have been linked to in utero exposures.[6] In the majority of cases, the cause is not known.[5]
Last updated: 3/7/2017

The long-term outlook (prognosis) for those with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) depends on a number of factors and is hard to predict. A large defect is more likely to result in pulmonary hypoplasia (underdevelopment of the lungs) and death than a small defect.[6] Other factors associated with decreased survival include:
  • premature birth
  • having a chromosome abnormality or single gene disorder
  • the presence of other severe birth defects such as a heart defect
  • having a right-sided defect or bilateral CDH (on both sides)
  • liver herniation
  • a lower fetal lung volume[5][6][4]

The most serious complication after surgical repair of CDH is  persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Other complications that may occur soon after surgery include hemorrhage, chylothorax, and patch infection.[4]

The postnatal survival rate at tertiary centers (providing specialized care) has improved, with reported rates of 70 to 92 percent. However, these data represent the survival rate of cases that were full-term infants born or transferred to tertiary care centers with available skilled personnel and access to advanced technology.[4]

While reports of normal or near-normal long-term outcomes are increasing, many survivors have long-term complications.[5] These may include chronic respiratory disease, recurrent hernia (abnormal opening) or patch problems, spine or chest wall abnormalities, gastrointestinal difficulties, and neurological impairment.[4]

Last updated: 3/7/2017

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources


Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
CDH should be differentiated from cystic malformation of the lung.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • The Centers for Mendelian Genomics program is working to discover the causes of rare genetic disorders. For more information about applying to the research study, please visit their website.
  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.

In-Depth Information

  • GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.


  1. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Genetics Home Reference. September, 2013; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernia.
  2. Daniel S Schwartz. Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias. Medscape Reference. July 29, 2016; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/426142-overview.
  3. Diaphragmatic hernia. MedlinePlus. April 27, 2015; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001135.htm.
  4. Hedrick HL and Adzick NS. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the neonate. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; February, 2017; https://www.uptodate.com/contents/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernia-in-the-neonate.
  5. Barbara R Pober, Meaghan K Russell, and Kate Guernsey Ackerman. Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Overview. GeneReviews. March 16, 2010; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1359/.
  6. Hedrick HL and Adzick NS. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Prenatal diagnosis and management. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; February, 2017;