Prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a retrospective analysis of 28 cases.

In a retrospective analysis of 28 cases of fetal diaphragmatic hernia, overall mortality was 86 per cent, but fell to 70 per cent when multiple anomalies were excluded. Congenital heart disease constituted the majority of associated anomalies. The incidence of an abnormal karyotype was 10.5 per cent, but rose to 20 per cent when only fetuses with multiple anomalies were included. Polyhydramnios, which occurred in 75 per cent, was a poor predictor of fetal outcome. The same applied to the intrathoracic position of the fetal stomach. In all four survivors, diaphragmatic hernia was diagnosed beyond 32 weeks of gestation.