[Congenital diaphragmatic hernias].

The chances of survival of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia have improved only slightly in recent years. Hence, surgery has little to offer towards improvement of prognosis. For this reason, new avenues must be explored which guarantee the functioning of post-foetal circulation and prevent a relapse into the foetal circulation. The emphasis is on continuous registration of the preductal and post-ductal arterial oxygen content, of the pressure conditions in the pulmonary artery and the extent of a right-left shunt. Among the most important therapeutic measures are high-frequency ventilation, effective control of acidosis and the use of vasodilators with pulmonary effectivity. However, their management requires special experience to avoid or control the frequent side effects.