The use of HFOV for the treatment of CDH has proved to be a valuable technique for pre-operative stabilisation and for intra- and postoperative respiratory treatment, above all for newborns with CDH.

The chances of predicting CDH outcome are fairly high. During prenatal age, only a few findings may be obtained. Conversely, many postnatal indexes and scores can reliably predict such outcome.

No abstract

Although longer follow-up to evaluate continence is to come, laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through should be considered for the correction of the high imperforate anus and, according to our experience, it represents the gold standard. It offers the advantage of good visualization of the fistula and the surrounding structures and minimally invasive abdominal and perineal wounds. With the laparoscopic Peña stimulator the direct observation of the contraction of the puborectalis sling allows an evaluation of the functional contractility and an accurate colonic pullthrough in the center of the muscle complex.