Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is surgically correctable, yet the poor lung development determines mortality and morbidity. In isolated cases the outcome may be predicted prenatally by medical imaging. Cases with a poor prognosis could be treated before birth. However, prenatal modulation of lung development remains experimental. Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion triggers lung growth and is currently being evaluated in a global clinical trial. Prenatal transplacental sildenafil administration may in due course be a therapeutic approach, reducing the occurrence of persistent pulmonary hypertension, either alone or in combination with fetal surgery.

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doi.org/10.1016/j.siny.2017.11.002, hdl.handle.net/1765/103174
Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
Department of Intensive Care

Russo, F.M. (Francesca Maria), de Coppi, P., Allegaert, K., Toelen, J. (Jaan), van der Veeken, L. (Lennart), Attilakos, G. (George), … Deprest, J. (2017). Current and future antenatal management of isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. doi:10.1016/j.siny.2017.11.002