Cardiovascular abnormalities associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Cardiovascular abnormalities were present in 11 of 48 (23%) patients with congeital diaphragmatic hernia. Cardiac abnormalities included congenital heart disease, compression of a major vascular structure, cardiac malposition, and abnormalities in pulmonary circulation. The differential diagnosis between isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia and coexisting cardiac abnormality may be difficult and may require echocardiographic or invasive studies. Mortality in infants with diaphragmatic hernia and cardiovascular abnormalities is 73% in contrast to 27% in those without cardiac abnormalities.