Current evidence on the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in neonates is adequate to support the use of this procedure provided that normal arrangements are in place for clinical governance and audit.
During the consent process, parents should be informed in particular about the possibility of conversion to abdominal repair and about the risk of recurrence.
This procedure should only be carried out by surgeons with specific training and experience in laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery in neonates and children.
NICE encourages collaboration between the units performing this procedure in the collection of data and publication of results.