Congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair--impact of delayed surgery and epidural analgesia.

This study was undertaken to assess the impact on mortality and the need for postoperative ventilation of intra- and postoperative epidural analgesia and delayed surgery in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The study was a retrospective chart review of 35 neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia treated in Durban between 1988 and 1993. The mortality rate was 30%, with too few patients having delayed surgery to demonstrate a benefit from this policy. Mortality and the requirement for postoperative ventilation were reduced in the epidural group. However, the patients with the worst prognosis all received general anaesthesia. The benefit of delaying surgery for congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair could not be demonstrated because of small numbers. Epidural analgesia appears to be a useful technique to reduce the need for postoperative ventilation following repair in lower-risk patients.