Nucleated erythrocyte count in newborn infants with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia: relationship with the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and survival.

Inadequate cardiac output in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia may cause chronic hypoxia and increased erythropoiesis. Postnatal nucleated erythrocyte counts were measured in 28 newborn infants with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia who were eligible for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Nucleated erythrocyte counts were lowest in infants who survived without ECMO, intermediate in survivors requiring ECMO, and highest in infants who died despite ECMO.