Effects of surgical repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia on cerebral hemodynamics evaluated by near-infrared spectroscopy

Notwithstanding the initial cardiorespiratory stabilization, surgical repair of CDH was associated with a rise in HR and oxygen requirement and a drop in cerebral tHb and O2Hb, suggesting a reduction in cerebral blood volume and oxygenation. These events were probably due to the combined effects of an increase in right to left shunting (as indicated by the increased oxygen requirement) and a decrease in venous return (possibly due to compression of the inferior vena cava by the viscera positioned into the abdomen). These preliminary results reinforce the importance of achieving a good cardiorespiratory stability before undertaking surgical correction of CDH to minimize the possible interference of the procedure with cerebral circulation and oxygenation.