Cocuk Sagligi ve Hastaliklari Dergisi, cilt.46, sa.3, ss.177-181, 2003 (Scopus)
Clinical presentation, operative findings, and long-term pulmonary function after operation are herein reported in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Fourteen patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia were included. Signs and symptoms at presentation, radiological and operative findings, and postoperative complications were reviewed from hospital files. Patients were seen two to 17 years after operation for clinical examination, and radiological and pulmonary function studies. Of 14 patients, five were diagnosed during the neonatal period and nine thereafter. Eight had left-sided, four had right-sided and two had retrosternal hernia. Complaints, mainly respiratory, disappeared after surgery in all patients. All patients had normal pulmonary function tests on spirometry, except for a four-year-old boy who could not perform the tests. Arterial blood gas analysis performed in 10 patients was normal. Four patients had limited diaphragm movements which were not significant clinically. After successful surgical repair, excellent long-term pulmonary function might be expected in congenital diaphragmatic hernia presenting either neonatally or later.