With the advances in prenatal imaging, about two-thirds of the cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia are detected in the antenatal period. The presentation in the postnatal period depends on the size of the defect. Large diaphragmatic hernias usually present at birth with respiratory distress, cyanosis, decreased breath sounds on the affected side, displaced heart sounds, and scaphoid abdomen. Small hernias may have a delayed presentation with mild respiratory distress and/or feeding problems. As discussed earlier, CDH can be part of a genetic syndrome or associated with involvement of other organ systems with resulting congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, intestinal anomalies, renal anomalies, etc.

More than half of the cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia are suspected prenatally during the routine anomaly scan done between 18 to 24 weeks of gestation. Visualization of abdominal contents in the thorax and mediastinal shift to the contralateral side of the diaphragmatic defect on ultrasound examination are characteristic features of CDH. However, mild cases may not be identified until later if the defect is small, and there is an absence of herniation of abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity. A right-sided CDH with the herniated liver can be difficult to diagnose as the echogenicity of the liver is similar to that of the lung tissue on ultrasound. In such instances, a color Doppler ultrasound examination helps identify the presence of ductus venosus and intrahepatic vessels in the thoracic cavity. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used in the assessment of the severity of CDH and other associated anomalies. The degree of lung hypoplasia, the position of the liver, and co-existing anomalies determine the survival chances and prognosis in CDH. The lung area to head ratio is a marker of the degree of lung volume. It is calculated by measuring the lung area of the contralateral lung divided by the fetal head circumference. Metkus et al. reported from a cohort of fetuses with CDH diagnosed before 25 weeks gestation that a lung-to-head circumference ratio (LHR)>1.35 was associated with 100% survival and an LHR <0.6 with no survival.[10] However, with the increasing survival of infants with CDH, this ratio is less predictive of mortality and more predictive of morbidity. Observed to the expected lung-to-head ratio (O/E LHR) for the gestational age might be a better predictor of survival as the measurements used to calculate LHR vary across the gestational age with the lung growth being four times higher than head growth during pregnancy.[11] Reports from the antenatal CDH registry show that an O/E LHR less than 15 is associated with 100% mortality. In contrast, the predicted survival is more than 75% in cases where the O/E LHR is more than 45 in isolated left-sided CDH.[12][13] Assessment of total lung volume and observed to expected total fetal lung volume (O/E TFLV) on MRI imaging are also noted to be of prognostic value.[14] In a recent meta-analysis by Oluyomi-Obi et al., it was shown that O/E LHR, O/E TFLV, and liver herniation are good predictors of mortality in CDH.[15] The outcome of polyhydramnios may complicate the pregnancy due to compression of the esophagus and impairment of fetal swallowing. This can result in the premature delivery of the fetus, adding to the morbidity and mortality associated with CDH. Antenatal corticosteroid administration may be considered due to this risk of preterm delivery. Genetic evaluation is recommended in all cases of CDH, given the increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities and associated genetic syndromes.

Antenatal Management

Once the diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is confirmed, it is recommended to have close monitoring to check fetal well-being. In cases of moderate to severe CDH, selective centers in the U.S. are offering fetal therapy for eligible patients. In this therapy, the fetal trachea is occluded by an inflated balloon under endoscopic visualization around 26 to 30 weeks gestation. This results in the accumulation of the lung fluid and subsequent stretch and growth of the lung. Tracheal occlusion has been shown to affect surfactant production by decreasing the number of type 2 pneumocytes. Hence, the balloon is retrieved around 33 to 34 weeks gestation to allow for some surfactant production. There is an increased risk of preterm delivery associated with this therapy, but studies have shown a better survival rate in the fetal surgery group compared to the control group.[16][17][18] All the infants undergoing fetal surgery will still require a postnatal repair of the CDH. Two multinational, randomized controlled trials (Tracheal Occlusion To Accelerate Lung Growth Trial -TOTAL and Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion-FETO) are ongoing to evaluate the benefit of tracheal occlusion in fetuses with moderate and severe CDH.

Postnatal Management

The delivery of infants with CDH is not recommended before the completion of 37 weeks gestation. In a study by Hutcheon et al., it was noted that the mortality of infants with CDH delivered at 40 weeks was significantly lesser than those delivered at 37 weeks.[19] Since the overall outcomes of infants vary within the ‘term (37 to 40 weeks)’ gestation with better prognosis seen with advancing gestation, it is preferable to wait until 39 weeks of gestation as long as no other complications are necessitating an early delivery.[20][21] Delivery at a tertiary center with expertise in the management of CDH and easy access to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy is strongly recommended. 

Delivery Room Management

In cases of prenatally diagnosed CDH, it is recommended to place a nasogastric tube soon after delivery for decompression of the stomach and intestines. If the infant has respiratory distress, avoidance of bag-mask ventilation, and prompt intubation should be performed. The rest of the delivery room management should be in accordance with the current neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) guidelines. An emerging area of research is the delivery room management of these infants with an intact umbilical cord, assuming that this will allow the better cardiopulmonary transition. Small pilot studies have shown that resuscitation in CDH infants with an intact cord is safe and feasible.[22][23]. Trials evaluating the benefit of delayed cord clamping in such infants are also ongoing. Further randomized trials are needed before such approaches are recommended.

Ventilator Management

Avoidance of ventilator-induced lung injury with gentle ventilation strategies is the cornerstone of respiratory management in infants with CDH. Maintaining the preductal saturations in the 85%-95% range with a peak inspiratory pressure < 25 cm H2O, positive end-expiratory pressure of 3-5 cm H2O, and targeting PCO2 in the 45-60 mmHg range is a reasonable strategy to mitigate lung injury. High-frequency ventilation should be considered if adequate ventilation/oxygenation cannot be achieved using a conventional ventilator. In a multicenter randomized trial (VICI trial) comparing conventional mechanical ventilation to high-frequency oscillatory ventilation as the initial mode in infants with CDH, it was shown that the infants in the conventional mechanical ventilation group had shorter ventilation time and lesser need for ECMO. Still, there was no significant difference in the primary outcome of BPD/death between the groups.[24] Surfactant administration was not shown to be beneficial in term and preterm infants with CDH.[25][26] Thus, its routine use is not recommended in term infants and has to be considered on a case by case basis in preterm infants.

Management of PH

The abnormal remodeled pulmonary vasculature in infants with CDH contributes to the development of PH. PH is suspected based on clinical findings of hypoxemia, cyanosis, differential cyanosis with preductal oxygen saturations higher than postductal saturations if there is right to left shunting across the PDA. It is recommended to obtain an echocardiogram on suspicion of PH or within 48 hours to assess the pulmonary vascular pressures. Typical findings on echocardiogram in PH include right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonic and tricuspid valve regurgitation, and bidirectional or right-to-left ductal shunting. Management of PH includes optimization of ventilatory settings to target adequate ventilation and oxygenation, maintaining systemic arterial blood pressures in the normal range with the use of vasopressors if needed, and the use of pulmonary vasodilators to increase pulmonary blood flow as needed.

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), which is a selective pulmonary vasodilator, is the first line of choice in the medical management of PH in infants > 34 weeks gestation. Despite the NINOS trial not demonstrating a reduced need for ECMO/Death with the use of iNO in infants with CDH, iNO continues to be used in the management of PH in CDH. [27] Milrinone, a phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor, is helpful in infants with co-existing left ventricular dysfunction. Other drugs such as sildenafil, bosentan, PGE1, PGI2 are also used to treat PH with variable success. ECMO is considered to be the last resort option for eligible infants who are unresponsive to conventional medical therapy. Eligible criteria for initiation of ECMO are available in the consensus guidelines published by the CDH Euro consortium.[28]

Surgical Treatment

CDH was treated for many years as an emergent surgical diagnosis, but mortality rates were high secondary to PH.[29] The practice of rushing infants directly from the delivery room to the operating room was brought into question, and research demonstrated no clinical benefit.[30] Today, surgical repair is usually delayed at least 48 to 72 hours after birth to allow time for the adaptation of the pulmonary vasculature and improvement of PH. For children in whom PH is severe, the surgery is delayed further, until the PH is adequately controlled. The survival rate of infants with CDH decreases to around 50% if ECMO is required. The timing of surgical repair once ECMO is initiated is highly variable. Bleeding complications are higher following CDH on ECMO compared to repair after decannulation. However, some centers infuse aminocaproic acid and modify anticoagulation protocols at the time of operation to combat the bleeding risks, and report fewer circuit complications and earlier decannulation when surgical repair is performed on ECMO.[31] 

The surgical approach to CDH has historically been through a subcostal abdominal incision. Minimally invasive surgery has become increasingly popular over time, and many CDH repairs in stable children are now done thoracoscopically.[32] Minimally invasive techniques may lessen postoperative pain and avoid complications associated with thoracotomy and laparotomy. Carbon dioxide insufflation during these procedures may cause intraoperative hypercapnia and acidosis, but the clinical ramifications of these changes are unclear.[33] When the diaphragmatic defect is large, a primary repair may be inadvisable or impossible. The gap may be bridged with a prosthetic patch, biologic patch, or abdominal or thoracic muscle flap. All of these techniques are associated with a risk of future CDH recurrence.

Readers are also encouraged to refer to standard practice guidelines and other comprehensive review articles on the management of infants with CDH.[28][34][35][36]

The differential diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia includes other thoracic lesions such as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, bronchopulmonary sequestration, bronchogenic cysts, bronchial atresia, teratomas. The appearance of intraabdominal contents within the thorax on x-ray differentiates CDH from other lesions. Antenatally, the presence of a stomach bubble and intestinal peristalsis noted within the thorax on ultrasonogram points towards a diagnosis of CDH. Diaphragmatic eventration in which the diaphragm is intact but thin and elevated can be difficult to differentiate from CDH prenatally.

Prematurity, the size of the defect, degree of lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension, and associated anomalies are some of the main factors that determine the morbidity and mortality associated with Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. With advances in ventilation strategies, management of pulmonary hypertension, and refinement of surgical techniques, the outcomes of infants with CDH have improved over the past few years. The reported overall survival rates in CDH range between 60% to 70%.[37][38][39]

Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia have a multitude of long term complications that persist beyond the period of infancy. Respiratory complications include chronic lung disease, home oxygen requirement, aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension, and obstructive airway disease. Gastrointestinal complications such as oral feeding aversion, gastroesophageal reflux, and growth failure are common. Neurocognitive delays, behavioral disorders, sensorineural hearing loss are also noted. Hernia recurrence is another risk that can present months to years later, especially in infants with large defects. Orthopedic deformities such as pectus, asymmetry of the chest wall, scoliosis have also been described in a significant number of infants post CDH repair.[40] All these clinical issues have shown to impact the quality of life of the affected children.[41] However, in a recent study from Sweden, it was noted that the health-related quality of life in children born with CDH is good overall.

Patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia require long term periodic follow up due to the associated complications, as mentioned above. Patients and their parents should be educated about the need for a regular follow up not only with the pediatrician for the preventive health care visits but also with subspecialists to limit the disability resulting from the complications. A detailed list of recommendations for follow-up needed for these infants is summarized in a guideline from the American Academy of Pediatrics.[40]

The management of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia requires the services of an interprofessional team. After the diagnosis in the antenatal period, parents should be allowed to discuss the care with a group, including maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric surgery, neonatology, and social work as appropriate. Genetic evaluation and counseling are recommended for the identification of risk in future pregnancies. Following the repair in the postnatal period, a standardized and interprofessional follow-up to provide surveillance, screening, and clinical care is recommended to improve outcomes.