Diaphragmatic hernia in children is a congenital hernia that occurs in one of five thousand newborns. The essence of the pathology is that in utero the formation of the diaphragm is wrong - it forms a hole. Through it in the chest cavity can penetrate other organs, which squeeze the lungs. When the baby is born, he has problems with breathing, spinal cord, kidneys.
The main and most significant cause of development in newborn diaphragmatic hernia is weakness and insufficient elasticity of connective tissues.
Treatment and prognosis
Diaphragmatic hernia in newborns needs treatment, but it can be started before birth. If the doctor has detected the pathology of the fetus during ultrasound of the abdominal cavity of a pregnant woman, then the method of percutaneous fetoscopic correction is used. This is a surgical operation, during which a balloon is injected into the trachea of the baby, stimulating the development of its lungs. However, this procedure is prescribed with a real threat to the life of the fetus, because the risk of rupture of the diaphragm and premature birth is extremely high. If the symptoms of diaphragmatic hernia are found after birth, then treatment begins with ventilation immediately after childbirth. Then the child will have surgery. Doctors sew the hole in the diaphragm, and if necessary, sew the missing synthetic tissue. After a few months with a repeat operation, the flap will be removed.
The chances of a child to survive when diagnosing a diaphragmatic hernia range from 60-80%. However, these figures do not in themselves mean anything, because the main factors are the severity of the defect, as well as the location of the hernia (right or left side of the body). Only the doctor can tell you about the most effective methods of its treatment.