Thoracoscopic Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia repair in neonate: The First Experience of Iranian Group

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs due to a failure in closing pleuroperitoneal membrane thus resulting in an incomplete diaphragm formation1, which allows passage of the abdominal viscera into the thorax.1,3 Until 1995, the standard method for treatment of CDH was performed by open surgery through the abdomen or thoracic cavity. Minimally invasive approach via thoracoscopy or laparoscopy is applicable for treatment of CDH since 1995.4 Now a day’s thoracoscopic repair of CDH (T’Scopy CDH) is performed in many centers. In this paper, we present our experience of T’Scopy CDH repair from Iran.
Patients and From 2011 to 2015, 74 patients with CDH were admitted to Pediatric Surgery Department of Dr. Sheikh (Sarvar) Pediatric Hospital. Twenty one patients (28%) met our inclusion criteria and underwent T’Scopy CDH repair. The median age at the time of repair was 5 days (2-days-old to 4-years-old patients). Inclusion criteria were weight over 2 kg and stable hemodynamics and arterial blood gas. Fourteen cases were intubated before entering the operating room. The defect was in the left side except in two cases. In 8 cases, we used thoracic wall as part of repair. Also, mesh support was utilized in 8 cases even in cases were primary repair of diaphragm was possible in order to reinforcing the repair (5 cases). Of these 8 cases, in 3 patients, whole repair was accomplished by mesh due to presence of a large defect.
The mean time of operation was 80 minutes (40-230 minutes). Intraoperative mortality was zero. In hospital, mortality occurred in two cases due to septicemia in one and respiratory and cardiac failure in another. Conversion to open surgery was required in 6 cases. Late recurrence was observed in 2 cases. The mean time of follow up was 14.6 months (3-36 months).
It seems that appropriate case selection and liberal use of thoracic wall and mesh as a part of repair may cause better results and decreased chance of early and late recurrence.