Author:

Abstract:

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) still remains an intriguing disease with an incidence of 1/3,000 life-born infants. Insights in underlying pathologic mechanisms improved by the development of different animal models, but their implementation in perinatal clinical care is still limited. We first describe the clinical picture of CDH with a special emphasis on the prenatal diagnosis and the long term outcome data. Findings in the literature are illustrated by data obtained from these patients within the U.Z.Leuven. Based on the new insights mentioned above, recent pre- and postnatal therapeutic options are described. We hereby illustrate that the care of these infants has shifted from an urgent, surgical treatment to a multidisciplinary approach with obstetrical, neonatal, genetic and surgical aspects.