Diaphragmatic Hernia - A Woman's View | Healthcare for Women

A diaphragmatic hernia is a birth
defect that occurs in about 1 in 2,500 newborns. It happens in a baby during
pregnancy.

In this condition, there’s an
opening in your baby’s diaphragm. This is the muscle that separates the chest cavity
from the abdominal cavity. Some of the organs that are normally found in your baby’s
belly move up into their chest cavity through this opening. It is a life-threatening
problem.

The 2 most common types of diaphragmatic hernia are:

Bochdalek hernia. This type involves the side and back of
the diaphragm. The stomach, liver, spleen, or intestines move up into your child’s
chest cavity.
Morgagni hernia. This type involves the front part of the
diaphragm. The liver or intestines move up into your child’s chest cavity.

Your child’s diaphragm forms between weeks 4 to 12 in pregnancy. The esophagus and
the intestines also form at this time. The esophagus is the tube that connects the
throat to the stomach.

In a Bochdalek hernia, your child’s
diaphragm may not form as it should. Or your child’s intestine may get trapped in
the
chest cavity when the diaphragm is forming. This type of diaphragmatic hernia makes
up
about 8 in 10 cases.

In a Morgagni hernia, the tendon
that should form in the middle of the diaphragm doesn’t develop as it should. This
type
makes up 1 in 50 cases.

In both types, the diaphragm and
digestive tract don’t form as they are supposed to.

Diaphragmatic hernia is caused by
many factors. It happens because of genes or because of something in the environment.
That means that genes passed down from parents may play a role in this condition.
Unknown environmental factors may also play a role.

Symptoms can happen a bit
differently in each child.

The symptoms of a Bochdalek
diaphragmatic hernia show up soon after your baby is born. Symptoms may include:

Trouble breathing
Fast breathing
Fast heart rate
Blue color of the skin (cyanosis)
Abnormal chest development (1 side of
the chest is larger than the other)
Belly looks caved in (concave or
scaphoid)

A baby born with a Morgagni hernia
may not have any symptoms.

The symptoms of this condition may
be similar to symptoms of other health problems. Make sure your child sees their
healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

A healthcare provider may spot this
condition on an ultrasound during pregnancy. If so, other tests such as a fetal MRI
can
be done on the developing baby to get more information.

After birth, your baby’s healthcare
provider will do an exam. Your child may also need a chest X-ray. This test will show
any issues in your child’s lungs, diaphragm, and intestines.

Your child may also need the following tests:

Arterial blood gas test. This blood
test checks how your baby’s lungs are working and how well your baby is
breathing.
Blood test for chromosomes. This test
shows if your baby has a gene (genetic) problem.
Ultrasound of the heart
(echocardiogram). This test shows if your baby has problems with the heart and
valves.

Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also
depend on how severe the condition is.

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Babies with this condition need
care in a NICU. These babies cannot breathe well on their own because their lungs
are
not fully developed. Most babies will need to use a breathing machine (mechanical
ventilator). It can help them breathe.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

Some babies with severe problems
need to be put on a heart/lung bypass machine (ECMO). ECMO does the job that the
baby’s heart and lungs should be doing. It puts oxygen in your baby’s bloodstream.
It
also pumps blood to your baby’s body. ECMO may be used temporarily. Your baby may
need it until their condition gets better.

Surgery

Once your baby is in good enough
condition, your child will need to have surgery. The goal of surgery is to fix the
diaphragmatic hernia. Your baby’s surgeon will move your baby’s stomach, intestine,
and other abdominal organs. The surgeon will take them from the chest cavity and move
them back to the abdominal cavity. The surgeon will also fix the hole in your baby’s
diaphragm.

Many babies will need to stay in
the NICU after surgery. This is because your baby’s lungs will still be
underdeveloped. Your child will still need breathing support for a while. After your
baby is done using the breathing machine, they may still need oxygen or medicine to
help with breathing. Your child may need this for weeks, months, or even years.

In this condition, your baby’s
heart, lungs, and abdominal organs are all in the chest cavity. As a result, your
baby’s
lungs don’t have enough space to form like they should. It can cause your baby’s lungs
to be underdeveloped. This condition is called pulmonary hypoplasia.

Underdeveloped lungs can make it
hard for a baby to breathe right after birth. It’s why a diaphragmatic hernia is a
life-threatening illness.

Healthy lungs have millions of
small air sacs (alveoli). These look like balloons filled with air. In pulmonary
hypoplasia, the following happens:

There are fewer air sacs than
normal.
The air sacs that are there can only
partially fill with air.
The air sacs deflate easily because of
a lack of a lubricating fluid (surfactant).

When this happens, your baby isn’t
able to take in enough oxygen to stay healthy.

Your baby’s intestines may also not
form as they are supposed to.

Babies born with this condition can have long-term health problems. They often need
regular follow-up care after they go home from the hospital.

Lung problems

Many babies will have long-term
(chronic) lung problems. They may need oxygen and medicine to help them breathe. They
may need this treatment for weeks, months, or years.

Gastroesophageal reflux

Babies often have reflux. In
this condition, acid and fluids from your baby’s stomach move up into the esophagus.
It can cause heartburn, vomiting, feeding problems, or lung problems. Your child’s
healthcare provider may give your child medicine to help.

Trouble growing

Some babies will have trouble
growing. This is called failure to thrive. Children with serious lung problems are
most likely to have growing problems. Because of their illness, they may need more
calories than a normal baby to grow and get healthier. Reflux can also cause feeding
problems. It can keep a baby from eating enough to grow.

Developmental issues

Babies with this condition may
also have developmental problems. They may not roll over, sit, crawl, stand, or walk
at the same time as healthy babies. These children may need physical, speech, and
occupational therapy. It can help them gain muscle strength and coordination.

Hearing loss

Some babies may have hearing
loss. Your child should have a hearing test before leaving the hospital.

You’ll work closely with your baby’s healthcare team. They’ll make a care plan for
your baby. Ask your child’s healthcare provider about your child’s outlook.

Your child’s healthcare team will
tell you how to care for your baby before they leave the hospital. Call your child’s
healthcare provider if your child has new symptoms or if you have questions.

A diaphragmatic hernia is a birth
defect. In this condition, there’s an opening in your baby’s diaphragm. It allows
some of the organs that should be found in your child’s belly to move up into the
chest cavity.
This condition can cause serious breathing problems. It is life-threatening.
Babies will need to stay in the NICU. They will need to be put on a breathing machine
to help their breathing.
Once your baby is in good enough
condition, they will need to have surgery. The goal of surgery is to fix the
diaphragmatic hernia.
Babies born with this condition often have long-term health issues. They need regular
follow-up care after they go home from the hospital.

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:

Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.
Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
At the visit, write down the name of a
new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new
instructions your provider gives you for your child.
Know why a new medicine or treatment
is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects
are.
Ask if your child’s condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose
for that visit.
Know how you can contact your child’s provider after office hours. This is important
if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.