Congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a developmental opening in the diaphragm through which abdominal organs can enter the chest. The resulting compression can impair lung growth and cause serious breathing and circulatory problems after birth.

Pulmonary hypoplasia: Underdevelopment of the lungs, with fewer or smaller airways and blood vessels than expected. Chest compression from herniated organs can restrict lung development before birth.
Prenatal diagnosis: The identification of a condition in a fetus before birth using imaging or testing. Ultrasound and fetal MRI can identify the defect and assess its effects.
Bochdalek hernia: A posterolateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia, usually on the left side. This is the most common anatomical form of the congenital defect.
Eventration of the diaphragm: Abnormal elevation of a thin or weak diaphragm that remains intact rather than having a hernia opening. It can resemble hernia on imaging but does not involve the same defect.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair: Surgery that returns herniated organs to the abdomen and closes the diaphragmatic opening. Repair restores separation of chest and abdomen after cardiopulmonary stabilization.
Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: Failure of newborn lung blood vessels to relax normally after birth, causing high pressure and low oxygen levels. Abnormal pulmonary vessels in affected infants can sustain fetal-style high pressure after delivery.
Fetal MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging performed during pregnancy to assess fetal anatomy and development. It can estimate fetal lung volume and clarify organ position.
Morgagni hernia: An anterior congenital diaphragmatic hernia near the sternum, usually on the right side. This less common location can present differently from the typical posterolateral defect.
Acquired diaphragmatic hernia: A passage of abdominal contents into the chest through a diaphragm defect caused after birth. Unlike this congenital condition, the defect follows injury or surgery.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease: A chronic condition in which stomach contents repeatedly flow back into the esophagus and cause symptoms or injury. Reflux is a common longer-term problem after congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

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