Bilateral congenital posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia

A female neonate with bilateral congenital posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia is presented. The correct diagnosis was established only after repair of the left hemidiaphragm. Repair of the right hemidiaphragm failed to prevent a downhill course with progressive respiratory failure which led to her death. This extremely rare anomaly is discussed in view of the complex embryological development of the diaphragm.