Hearing loss in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia treated without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: report of two cases.

The authors report the cases of 2 infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) treated without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy who were discovered to have hearing loss at 1 year of age. Both boys had been diagnosed as having CDH antenatally and were treated with surgery and high-frequency oscillatory (HFO) therapy. The patterns of hearing loss were consistent with sensorineural deafness and believed to be associated with HFO therapy, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and a high pH.