An infant with the rare combination of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and hypoplastic left heart has been reported. Although herniated viscera in the chest impair bronchial division and cause hypoplastic lungs, this patient demonstrated lung growth and histologic maturation after successful correction of the diaphragmatic hernia. No subsequent change of the hypoplastic left heart toward normal occurred. There is no apparent causal relationship between these two defects.
Creation of an atrial septal defect has been useful in the treatment of hypoplastic left heart. Further clinical trials are encouraged.
OC37: The hyperoxygenation test for fetal pulmonary artery reactivity before and after in utero unplugging in fetuses with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia that underwent fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion