Other babies have lungs which are so poorly developed that they cannot keep the baby alive after delivery and the baby dies very quickly. Most affected babies are in between and have a degree of breathing difficulty. These problems may be lethal. Most UK units stabilise the baby in Intensive Care on a ventilator, so that the lungs and heart can be assessed. The baby is often kept for several days until the optimal moment for surgical repair is reached.
Most surgeons repair the hole in the diaphragm via the abdomen.
If there is enough diaphragm, the two edges of the hole are stitched together. If not, then a patch has to be inserted. This will not grow with the baby and may need replacement. Post operatively, the baby will be more ill than before, because of the stress of the operation. After several days, or even weeks, if the lungs are good enough, then the baby can be weaned off the ventilator and will go home.