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Late presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in children: A single-institution experience

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with late presentation beyond the neonatal period is rare and often misdiagnosed, with delayed treatment. We report the management of a series of patients that presented after the neonatal period. Patients and method: we reviewed our experience over 4 years (2015-2019) in a single institution to determine the factors for late presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, associated anomalies, complications and its management. Results: We had six patients diagnosed as late presenting CDH and operated in our institution over 4 years . The patients ranged in age from one year to 10 years with males to females ratio 2:1. All the hernia defects were left sided. Except one patient all have abnormal gut rotation. The mode of presentations were ; one patient presented with gastric perforation due to misdiagnosis of pneumothorax and ICD placement. Another one had irreducible gut gangrene, 2 cases have left lobe of liver along with small bowel, colon and spleen and stomach, The other 2 patients had small bowel, colon and spleen and stomach as hernia content. All cases were managed by primary repair of defect with interrupted non absorbable suture through transabdominal approach. Two cases had post op pleural effusion and pneumothorax and required intercostal tube placement, and all the patient were kept in intensive care for 48 hours but without any ventilator support. Conclusions: There should be a high index of suspicion in every case presenting with persistent vomiting along with abdominal pain, recurrent pneumonia, chronic respiratory conditions or acute abdominal condition with doubtful x-ray chest.