Potential survival benefit with repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in select patients: Study by ELSO CDH Interest Group

ELSO Registry analysis of 2,224 matched neonates with CDH demonstrates that delaying surgical repair until after ECMO decannulation is associated with significantly improved survival compared to on-ECMO repair (OR 3.41 for mortality with on-ECMO approach). Propensity score matching controlled for disease severity, suggesting timing of repair independently impacts outcomes in this critically ill population.