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Condition

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

What is congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)?

The diaphragm is a thin sheet of muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest and it helps us breathe. A congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect that causes a hole in the diaphragm during prenatal development.

A CDH allows some of the lower abdominal organs to move through the diaphragm into the chest. The presence of abdominal organs in the chest puts pressure on the developing lungs. As a result, the lungs are smaller than normal (pulmonary hypoplasia) and do not function normally (a problem known as pulmonary hypertension). 

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

What causes congenital diaphragmatic hernia?

What are the symptoms of congenital diaphragmatic hernia?

How is congenital diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed?

What are the treatments for congenital diaphragmatic hernia?

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PATIENT STORY

Providers Who Treat Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Departments that Treat Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

    Prenatal Pediatrics Institute

    The Prenatal Pediatrics Institute at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., provides specialized care for babies during pregnancy, delivery and after birth.