The use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for perinatal support of an infant with d-transposition of the great arteries, intact atrial and ventricular septa, and flow-restricted ductus arteriosus.

Prenatal assessment of a fetus with D-transposition of the great arteries demonstrated an absence of mixing between systemic and pulmonary circulations, and predicted lethal postnatal hypoxemia. A multidisciplinary meeting evaluated therapeutic options. After cesarean delivery, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was instituted in preparation for open atrial septectomy.

Duplication of the cervical esophagus: a case report and review of the literature.

This report describes a newborn with a cervical esophageal duplication cyst, a rare developmental anomaly of the neck. Only a few cases of this cystic entity have been described in the literature to date. This case is unique in that the patient had an air-fluid level within the lesion as a result of communication of the duplication cyst with the native esophagus.

Staged reconstruction of large congenital diaphragmatic defects with synthetic patch followed by reverse latissimus dorsi muscle.

Background/purpose: Synthetic repair of large congenital diaphragmatic defects (>90%) invariably will lead to recurrence, progressive chest wall deformity, and restrictive pulmonary disease. Staged reconstruction with living, growing tissue can help avoid these complications.

Methods: Between November 1995 and December 1999, 5 patients (median age, 25 months) with diaphragmatic agenesis underwent staged replacement with a reverse latissimus dorsi (RLD) flap.