Most infants with a diaphragmatic hernia are transferred to a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). It may take days or weeks for your child’s health to be stable enough for surgery.

• In the NICU, your child will probably need help breathing with a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) before the surgery. This is because their lungs are smaller than normal.
• If your child is very sick, their doctor may use a heart-lung bypass machine to help them get well enough for surgery. This machine does the work of the heart and lungs for your child.
• Before surgery, the hospital staff will be taking many x-rays and doing many blood tests to see how well your child’s lungs are working. Your child will also have a light sensor (called a pulse oximeter) taped to their skin to monitor the oxygen level in their blood.
• Your child may also be on medicines to control their blood pressure and keep them comfortable.

Your child will also have a tube going from their mouth to their stomach to keep air out of the stomach. They will also have a catheter (tube) placed in an artery and a vein to deliver nutrients and medicines, and so that their blood can be monitored.