[Experiences about ductus arteriosus closure with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (author's transl)]

Ten cases of posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia have been operated upon the last two years. Three cases of these have successfully been operated in conventional way. In seven cases ductus arteriosus was closed. Only two cases survived. A preoperative evaluation is to be done. Depending on the blood-gas-analysis, the cases can be divided into cases belonging to the survival zone and cases belonging to the fatal zone according to Boix-Ochoa. If it is possible to increase the oxygen uptake and to expire the carbonic acid, the results seem to be good after conventional operation. If it not will be possible to increase the oxygen saturation and not even possible to reduce the CO2 pressure with a ventilator with 100 per cent oxygen, the cases are to be considered inoperable. In fatal zone cases, where a reduction of PCO2 is possible, but there are no possibilities to get an increased oxygen saturation, an operative closing of ductus can be tried if heart anoxia is treated with the aid of an oxygenator.