Glossary of terms you will hear
This page is educational and is not medical advice. If you have an urgent concern, call your physician or 911.
CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia) — A hole in the diaphragm, present from birth, that lets abdominal organs move up into the chest and crowd the developing lungs.
Diaphragm — The dome-shaped muscle separating the chest from the abdomen; the main muscle of breathing.
Pulmonary hypoplasia — Underdeveloped lungs that are smaller and less mature than expected.
Pulmonary hypertension — High blood pressure in the lung’s blood vessels, which makes it harder to move oxygen into the blood. A central challenge in CDH.
O/E-TFLV (observed-to-expected total fetal lung volume) — A fetal MRI measurement comparing your baby’s lung volume to what would be expected at that gestational age. Used to estimate severity.
Percent liver herniation (%LH) — How much of the liver has moved up into the chest, measured on fetal MRI. More liver up generally means greater severity.
LHR (lung-to-head ratio) — An ultrasound-based measure of lung size relative to head size, used at some centers.
FETO (fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion) — A before-birth procedure that places a small balloon in the windpipe to encourage lung growth, removed before delivery.
Gentle ventilation — A breathing-support strategy that uses the lowest safe pressures to protect fragile lungs.
ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) — A heart-lung bypass machine that temporarily does the work of the lungs so they can rest and recover. Used in the most severe cases.
Patch repair — Closing a large diaphragm defect with a patch of material when there is not enough tissue to stitch the edges together.
MFM (maternal-fetal medicine) — Obstetricians who specialize in high-risk and complex pregnancies.
Neonatologist — A physician who specializes in the care of newborns, especially those who are critically ill.