ECMO and the management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia with large diaphragmatic defects requiring a prosthetic patch

From 1977 to 1991, 136 neonates have had corrective surgery for diaphragmatic hernia at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. A retrospective study was performed to determine how many of the 136 neonates had defects large enough to require the use of a prosthetic patch to repair the defect. Twelve were found. All 12 were symptomatic at birth for respiratory distress. Mean arterial blood gas values at birth were pH 6.95, PCO₂ 94.8, and PO₂ 47.2. The mean oxygen index (n=10) was 61.8. Six of these patients were repaired without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support while the other six received ECMO bypass perioperatively. All six of the patients who did not receive ECMO support died despite successful diaphragmatic repair. Five of six patients who received ECMO perioperatively survived (83%). These surviving infants are now between 1 month and 4 years of age. In the survivors, four of five required subsequent repair and patch enlargement for a recurrent diaphragmatic hernia. Gastroesophageal reflux, requiring a Nissen fundoplication in two infants, complicated the course of three survivors. Four survivors were discharged with supplemental oxygen therapy lasting less than 13 months. Patch disruption is predicted to occur at approximately 18 months of age in all patients, especially if little or no muscle was available at primary repair for prosthetic attachment. These children should be followed closely for feeding or respiratory symptoms. Diagnosis of patch disruption can be made by chest x-rays and confirmed by contrast studies. Patch expansion by laparotomy and careful search for additional musculature for patch attachment is recommended when reherniation occurs.