Newborns with diaphragmatic hernia: initial chest radiography does not have a role in predicting clinical outcome

Background The management of life-threatening congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has undergone significant change over the last two decades. When CDH was felt to be a surgical emergency treated promptly after birth, survival rates of 50% were typical. Recent changes in medical management of these patients prior to surgery have had a dramatic influence on clinical outcome with survival rates over 80%.