María V. Fraga , Gabriel Altit , Bradley A. Yoder , Shazia Bhombal
{"title":"What is the role of echocardiography in newborns with CDH?","authors":"María V. Fraga , Gabriel Altit , Bradley A. Yoder , Shazia Bhombal","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with high neonatal morbidity and mortality, often due to complex cardiovascular physiology and ventricular dysfunction. Echocardiography is a critical tool for assessing cardiac anatomy, ventricular performance, pulmonary hypertension, and shunt dynamics in both the prenatal and postnatal periods. Early echocardiographic evaluation can identify high-risk physiologic phenotypes and guide targeted interventions, yet optimal timing and frequency remain uncertain. This review outlines the role of fetal and neonatal echocardiography in CDH, highlights view-specific imaging strategies, and discusses key physiologic patterns. While early imaging may inform management, it must be interpreted in context to avoid unnecessary interventions. A targeted, phenotype-driven approach to echocardiography can support individualized care. Further research is needed to establish standardized protocols and determine the impact of echocardiographic timing on outcomes in this vulnerable population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 3","pages":"Article 101657"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144976423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Deepika Sankaran , Satyan Lakshminrusimha , Michelle J. Lim
{"title":"Cardiorespiratory transition in CDH","authors":"Deepika Sankaran , Satyan Lakshminrusimha , Michelle J. Lim","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101649","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101649","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Congenital diaphragmatic hernia<span><span> (CDH) is a rare congenital anomaly that occurs due to incomplete closure of the diaphragm followed by herniation of abdominal contents into the chest. Fetal </span>hemodynamics<span><span><span><span> are altered in CDH due to pulmonary alveolar and vascular hypoplasia<span>, low pulmonary venous return and in some cases, hypoplasia or dysfunction of the left heart. CDH is associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality due to </span></span>pulmonary hypoplasia and </span>persistent pulmonary hypertension<span> of the newborn secondary to pulmonary vascular hypoplasia and remodeling. Resuscitation in the delivery room involves optimizing cardiopulmonary transition from fetal to neonatal circulation through gentle ventilation, </span></span>endotracheal intubation<span><span><span> and gastric decompression. Infants with CDH often present with hypoxemic respiratory failure in the immediate postnatal period due to pulmonary hypertension. The understanding of critical cardiopulmonary interactions and the distinguishing features of CDH sub-phenotypes and degree of cardiac involvement may aid in an augmented precision-based approach to </span>invasive ventilation, vasoactive use, and </span>ECMO management. Improved survival is reported after fetal in-utero interventions such as fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) with CDH and severe secondary pulmonary hypoplasia. Clinical outcomes can potentially be improved by optimizing cardiopulmonary transition in the delivery room and cardiopulmonary interactions in the immediate the postnatal period.</span></span></span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 3","pages":"Article 101649"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144565363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ulla Lei Larsen , John T. Wren Jr. , Christy Gilcrease , Mark Bremholm Ellebaek , Patrick E. Sloan
{"title":"Nutrition in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: How and when?","authors":"Ulla Lei Larsen , John T. Wren Jr. , Christy Gilcrease , Mark Bremholm Ellebaek , Patrick E. Sloan","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Survival for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia<span><span> (CDH) has improved, but they continue to face significant nutritional morbidity. They are at risk of growth failure, malnutrition, gastroesophageal reflux disease<span><span><span> (GERD), oral aversion, and the need for nutritional tube feeding support after the initial hospitalization. Malnutrition and poor nutritional outcomes impact </span>neurodevelopment, underlining the importance of addressing these issues. Available evidence in this area is scarce, and controversies remain about the timing and mode of </span>enteral feeding in the peri-operative period, the role of enteral nutrition on </span></span>extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and nutritional growth targets for infants with CDH.</span></div><div>In this manuscript, we discuss enteral and parenteral targets for infants with CDH, growth targets, the timing and advancement of enteral feeding. In addition, we discuss post-discharge nutritional support, identify gaps in the current literature and address parental concerns around nutrition and growth in infants with CDH.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 3","pages":"Article 101650"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144565364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maëlig Abgral , Francesca M. Russo , Jan Deprest , Alexandra Benachi
{"title":"Prenatal assessment and prediction in CDH: for what purpose?","authors":"Maëlig Abgral , Francesca M. Russo , Jan Deprest , Alexandra Benachi","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is most often diagnosed prenatally, and accurate assessment is crucial for prognosis parental counselling and therapeutic planning. The assessment of pulmonary hypoplasia is currently the most relevant prognostic indicator. Ultrasound and MRI parameters such as the observed-to-expected lung-to-head ratio and total fetal lung volume serve as the primary predictors of neonatal outcome. However, these markers are not predictive of associated complications like persistent pulmonary hypertension of neonates and cardiac dysfunction, which also significantly influence survival and morbidity. Although new imaging parameters have been proposed, their clinical utility is limited by insufficient validation and inter-center variability. This review critically evaluates current prenatal imaging methods for congenital diaphragmatic hernia, highlighting their strengths and limitations. A better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, alongside efforts to develop standardized, reproducible and eventually predictive markers, is essential to refine prognosis, optimize fetal therapy selection, eventually improving outcomes for affected neonates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 3","pages":"Article 101654"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144718975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabriel Guevara , K. Taylor Wild , Richard Keijzer , David J. McCulley
{"title":"Developmental pathophysiology and genetic contributions in CDH","authors":"Gabriel Guevara , K. Taylor Wild , Richard Keijzer , David J. McCulley","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101652","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 3","pages":"Article 101652"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144592748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K. Saint Denny , J. Lawer , S. Mur , T.M. Prentice
{"title":"Management of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) care: Addressing what matters to patients and their families?","authors":"K. Saint Denny , J. Lawer , S. Mur , T.M. Prentice","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite advances in care, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia remains a complex and challenging condition to manage and is often associated with long term morbidity. Families are required to navigate considerable uncertainty, challenges in prognostication and communication, and must adapt to an evolving clinical trajectory. This review addresses considerations and practical tips for healthcare professionals to improve the family and patient experience from diagnosis to adult care, from the perspective of clinicians and CDH families. This paper emphasizes the importance of including those with lived experience with CDH in defining topics of priority in research and in clinical and support interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 3","pages":"Article 101651"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144576760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"“Gentle” cardio-respiratory management in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Time for a precision-medicine approach?","authors":"Anna Foth , David Tingay , Florian Kipfmueller","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains one of the most challenging conditions to manage in neonatal intensive care, with outcomes determined by the complex interplay between pulmonary hypoplasia, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and ventricular dysfunction. Traditional treatment strategies, including high-frequency ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide, and vasopressor use, fail to account for the dynamic heterogeneity of CDH physiology and may contribute to persistently high mortality. Emerging evidence delineates three principal hemodynamic phenotypes: (1) preserved biventricular function with mild/no pulmonary hypertension (PH), (2) pre-capillary PH with or without right ventricular dysfunction, and (3) post-capillary PH with primary left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Each phenotype demands distinct ventilatory and pharmacologic strategies, ranging from cautious respiratory support to targeted pulmonary vasodilators, inodilators, or LV-directed therapies. Ventilation in CDH is further complicated by profound lung inhomogeneity, the “baby lung” phenomenon, and susceptibility to ventilator-induced lung injury. Advances in lung-protective strategies, including low driving pressure, permissive hypercapnia, synchrony-enhancing modes, and real-time functional monitoring with echocardiography, lung ultrasound, electrical impedance tomography, and use of circulating biomarkers enable tailored interventions. A precision medicine approach, grounded in multimodal monitoring and gentle cardiopulmonary support, holds promise to optimize hemodynamic balance, reduce iatrogenic injury, and improve survival and long-term outcomes in infants with CDH.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 3","pages":"Article 101660"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145259889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Post-discharge nutrition to optimize preterm infant short- and long-term outcomes","authors":"Sarah N. Taylor, Catherine O. Buck","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101637","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101637","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The preterm infant misses fetal nutrition, and the nutritional deficit is proportional to the degree of preterm birth with very preterm infants demonstrating the greatest need for supplemental nutrition to overcome deficiencies. Preterm infants’ growth patterns are linked to both their risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties and to the development of obesity. Therefore, establishing healthy growth patterns by providing the best nutrition both in the hospital and post-hospital discharge is critical for long-term health. Despite numerous clinical trials, uncertainty persists as to the duration of nutritional supplement, the degree of benefit of maternal milk feedings, and the best short-term measures of growth and body composition to predict long-term outcomes. As more is learned about optimal post-discharge nutrition, it is very likely that best practice in post-discharge nutrition will include use of a standardized approach to deliver individualized care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101637"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144054125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Use of human milk and fortification in the neonatal intensive care unit","authors":"David H. Adamkin","doi":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.siny.2025.101632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human milk is the gold standard for the nutrition of very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants. Pasteurized donor human milk (DM) should be provided for VLBW infants when own mother's milk (OMM) is not available. Prevention of Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an important short-term benefit associated with human milk feeding. Human milk alone does not meet the nutritional requirements for VLBW infants leading to nutritional inadequacy, postnatal growthfaltering,and risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcome. Human milk fortification with multicomponent fortifiers increases calories and provides additional protein and minerals and should minimize nutritional deficits. Human milk derived fortifiers (HMDF) provide an exclusive human milk diet but recent evidence to recommend their use over cow milk derived fortifiers is lacking. Individualized fortification using human milk analyzers in real time is an emerging practice that allows for a more personalized provision of nutrient needs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49547,"journal":{"name":"Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine","volume":"30 2","pages":"Article 101632"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144086842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}