Objective: After neonatal repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) recurrence is the most severe surgical complication and reported in up to 50% after patch implantation. Previous studies are difficult to compare due to differences in surgical techniques and retrospective study design and lack of standardized follow-up or radiologic imaging. The aim was to reliably detect complication rates by radiologic screening during longitudinal follow-up after neonatal open repair of CDH and to determine possible risk factors.Methods: At our referral center with standardized treatment algorithm and follow-up program, consecutive neonates were screened for recurrence by radiologic imaging at defined intervals during a 12-year period.Results: 326 neonates with open CDH repair completed follow-up of a minimum of 2 years. 68 patients (21%) received a primary repair, 251 (77%) a broad cone-shaped patch, and 7 a flat patch (2%). Recurrence occurred in 3 patients (0.7%) until discharge and diaphragmatic complications in 28 (8.6%) thereafter. Overall, 38 recurrences and/or secondary hiatal hernias were diagnosed (9% after primary repair, 12.7% after cone-shaped patch; p = 0.53). Diaphragmatic complications were significantly associated with initial defect size (r = 0.26). In multivariate analysis left-sided CDH, an abdominal wall patch and age below 4 years were identified as independent risk factors. Accordingly, relative risks (RRs) were significantly increased [left-sided CDH: 8.5 (p = 0.03); abdominal wall patch: 3.2 (p < 0.001); age ≤4 years: 6.5 (p < 0.002)]. 97% of patients with diaphragmatic complications showed no or nonspecific symptoms and 45% occurred beyond 1 year of age.Conclusions: The long-term complication rate after CDH repair highly depends on surgical technique: a comparatively low recurrence rate seems to be achievable in large defects by implantation of a broad cone-shaped, non-absorbable patch. Longitudinal follow-up with regular radiologic imaging until adolescence is essential to reliably detecting recurrence to prevent acute incarceration and chronic gastrointestinal morbidity with their impact on prognosis. Based on our findings and literature review, a risk-stratified approach to diaphragmatic complications is proposed.

Objective: In patients with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), postoperative small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a life-threatening event. Literature reports an incidence of SBO of 20% and an association with patch repair and ECMO treatment. Adhesions develop due to peritoneal damage and underly various biochemical and cellular processes. This longitudinal cohort study is aimed at identifying the incidence of SBO and the risk factors of surgical, pre-, and postoperative treatment.Methods: We evaluated all consecutive CDH survivors born between January 2009 and December 2017 participating in our prospective long-term follow-up program with a standardized protocol.Results: A total of 337 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 4 years. SBO with various underlying causes was observed in 38 patients (11.3%) and significantly more often after open surgery (OS). The majority of SBOs required surgical intervention (92%). Adhesive SBO (ASBO) was detected as the leading cause in 17 of 28 patients, in whom surgical reports were available. Duration of chest tube insertion [odds ratio (OR) 1.22; 95% CI 1.01–1.46, p = 0.04] was identified as an independent predictor for ASBO in multivariate analysis. Beyond the cut-off value of 16 days, the incidence of serous effusion and chylothorax was higher in patients with ASBO (ASBO/non-SBO: 2/10 vs. 3/139 serous effusion, p = 0.04; 2/10 vs. 13/139 chylothorax, p = 0.27). Type of diaphragmatic reconstruction, abdominal wall closure, or ECMO treatment showed no significant association with ASBO. A protective effect of one or more re-operations has been detected (RR 0.16; 95% CI 0.02–1.17; p = 0.049).Conclusion: Thoracoscopic CDH repair significantly lowers the risk of SBO; however, not every patient is suitable for this approach. GoreTex®-patches do not seem to affect the development of ASBO, while median laparotomy might be more favorable than a subcostal incision. Neonates produce more proinflammatory cytokines and have a reduced anti-inflammatory capacity, which may contribute to the higher incidence of ASBO in patients with a longer duration of chest tube insertion, serous effusion, chylothorax, and to the protective effect of re-operations. In the future, novel therapeutic strategies based on a better understanding of the biochemical and cellular processes involved in the pathophysiology of adhesion formation might contribute to a reduction of peritoneal adhesions and their associated morbidity and mortality.

Systemic Candidia infections are of major concern in neonates, especially in those with risk factors such as longer use of broad spectrum antibiotics. Recent studies showed that also term babies with underlying gastrointestinal or urinary tract abnormalities are much more prone to systemic Candida infection. We report a very rare case of candidiasis caused by Candida kefyr in a term neonate.

One potential comorbidity after congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which can have a substantial effect on patients’ quality of life, thriving, and complications later in life. Efforts have been made to reduce gastroesophageal reflux with a preventive anti-reflux procedure at the time of CDH repair. In this follow-up study of neonates participating in a primary RCT study on preventive anti-reflux surgery, symptoms of GER were assessed longitudinally. Long-term data with a median follow-up time of ten years was available in 66 patients. Thirty-one neonates received an initial fundoplication. Secondary anti-reflux surgery was necessary in 18% and only in patients with large defects. It was required significantly more often in patients with intrathoracic herniation of liver (p = 0.015) and stomach (p = 0.019) and patch repair (p = 0.03). Liver herniation was the only independent risk factor identified in multivariate regression analysis. Primary fundopexy and hemifundoplication did not reveal a protective effect regarding the occurrence of GER symptoms, the need for secondary antireflux surgery or the gain of body weight regardless of defect size neither in the short nor in the long term. Symptoms of GER must be assessed carefully especially in children with large defects, as these are prone to require secondary anti-reflux surgery in the long-term. Routine evaluation of GER including endoscopy and impedance measurement should be recommended especially for high-risk patients.