Can it be detected before birth? How serious is it?
If detected before birth CDH is diagnosed by seeing the stomach and some of the intestines in the chest area on the ultrasound scan.
CDH can be associated with other abnormalities. Therefore it is important to carry out other investigations such as amniocentesis and a detailed scan of the heart. CDH can also result in an increase in the amniotic fluid around the baby (known as Polyhydramnios) which may lead to an early delivery. CDH is a serious condition. Overall 85% of those diagnosed antenatally may die before or after delivery, but of those with no other abnormalities approximately 50% survive.
