Are there any long-term consequences of having a congenital diaphragmatic hernia if it is fixed right away?

Yes: Small, isolated defects that are accidentally discovered usually carry no long-term significance. However, congenital diaphragmatic hernia that is symptomatic may be associated with secondary effects on the heart and lung that can persist, even if the defect is closed promptly. Also, some cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia are associated with other anomalies.

Yes: Depending on when cdh happens during the pregnancy, associated complications like pulmonary hypoplasia (smaller amount of total lung volume), in decreased lung function, varying degrees of high blood pressure in lung blood vessels (pulmonary hypertension) etc are common complications which may continue to some extent, irrespective of when the surgery is done.

Dr Ali and another doctor agreed

Very few: normally in newborns the CDH is fixed after the pulmonary hypertension resolves. If it is an anterior hernia as in Morgagni type then it is fixed to prevent injury to herniated intestine. Same if it is adult with DH from trauma . Once recognized and diagnosed get it fixed .