POCUS J
. 2026 Apr 22;11(1):121-125.
doi: 10.24908/pocusj.v11i01.19486. eCollection 2026 Apr. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42131544/
Diagnosis of a Right Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in a Neonate with POCUS
Alyssa DaVolio 1 2, Brandon S Hays 1 3, Matthew O Thompson 1 4, Michael J Walsh 1 3, Parvesh M Garg 1 2, Ricardo J Rodriguez 1 2
Affiliations Expand
- PMID: 42131544
- PMCID: PMC13161782
- DOI: 10.24908/pocusj.v11i01.19486
Abstract
Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) can be used to diagnose neonatal lung diseases, especially in the setting of a newborn with significant respiratory distress. A neonate was born at 38.4 weeks gestational age to a 36-year-old Gravida 5 Para 3013 woman with prenatal concerns for fetal cardiothoracic anomalies. Fetal echocardiogram demonstrated left atrial compression of unclear etiology. After delivery, the neonate experienced significant respiratory distress. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed pulmonary hypertension but no structural heart disease. A lung POCUS exam revealed a homogenous echogenic structure within the right pleural cavity consistent with liver parenchyma. The initial diagnosis of right Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) was made and confirmed by a radiology-performed lung ultrasound and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest. This case demonstrated the utility of lung POCUS as an initial diagnostic tool in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for CDH.
Keywords: Congenital Diaphragmatic hernia; Neonatal Respiratory Distress; POCUS; Point of Care Ultrasound.
Copyright (c) 2026 Alyssa Davolio, Brandon S. Hays, Mathew O. Thompson, Michael J. Walsh, Parvesh M. Garg, Ricardo J. Rodriguez.
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