The fetus with a diaphragmatic hernia

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is accurate; current techniques can detect lethal nonpulmonary anomalies and prevent diagnostic errors. Despite optimal conventional therapy, most fetuses with detectable CDH will die in the neonatal period (80% mortality). Polyhydramnios is both a common prenatal marker for CDH and a predictor of poor clinical outcome (only 11% survival). Surgical intervention before birth may be necessary to improve survival of the fetus with CDH and polyhydraminos.