[Congenital posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia]

Eighty-four cases of posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia in children are reviewed. The most frequent signs were respiratory insufficiency, cyanosis and costal indrawing. The diagnosis was clinically established in over one half of the cases. In most of the patients, the studies showed respiratory acidosis. Also, radiological studies showed, in most of the cases, elevation of the hemidiaphragm with basal opacity of the hemithorax. For surgical treatment, the choice route was the abdominal. Overall mortality reached 37%.