Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs when there is a hole in the diaphragm, which is the thin sheet of muscle separating the chest from the abdomen. The first description of diaphragmatic hernia appeared in 1575. In 1848, Bochdalek described congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurring
through a posterolateral defect. Successful surgical treatment of CDH in an infant was first performed in 1902, whereas the first neonate operated within 24 hours of  life was reported in 1946. Pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension were early recognised as important reasons for the high mortality rate.
Aim: Analysis of the clinical profile and outcome of 50 cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and determination of risk factors for mortality and difference in age, gender, indications, presentations& complications of surgery. Patients and Methods: A retrospective & prospective observational study was conducted in 50 patients of congenital diaphragmatic hernia for different indications over a period of 9 years from May 2013 till May 2022 in Thi-Qar governorate. On admission, an informative history was taken from the family of every patient including age, gender, sex, onset and nature of clinical features related to disease itself. Other data included possible chronic diseases, associated anomalies & presence of previous surgical operation and history of drug allergy. Neonates with clinical and intraoperative diagnosis of diaphragmatic eventration were not included in this study.
Results: Of the 50 cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 27 of them were males and 23 were females aged from less than one month up to more than one year. Different investigations were done preoperatively. In addition, different complications were identified during and after surgery. Conclusion&recommendation: CDHs are common on the left side with fairly good prognosis. Though, the rightsided CDH are rare; they do carry a good prognosis, as it was seen in our experience. On the other hand pulmonary hypertension is a very bad prognostic sign and low birth weight and the presence of other associated congenital malformations lead to increased perioperative mortality.