Zeitschrift für pädiatrische Neurologie und Medizin

Successful Management of a Delayed Left Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in a 24 Days Baby Boy with Severe Respiratory and Hemodynamic Distress

Abstract

Bernadette Ngo Nonga

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is characterized by the absence of all or part of a diaphragmatic dome. It represents 8% of all congenital malformations, with an incidence of 1 in 2500 births in the United States. While many cases are discovered prenatally or during the immediate postnatal period, 5 to 25% of CDH can be late diagnosed. It is associated with varying degrees of pulmonary and pulmonary arterial hypertension leading to a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. CDH has been rarely reported in Africa and never in Cameroon where there is a profound lack of appropriate infrastructures to help manage these children. We are reporting the case of 24 days newborn presenting with severe respiratory distress and hemodynamic compromise diagnosed with a left diaphragmatic hernia with subsequent emergent surgical repair.