Congenital diaphragmatic hernia [CDH] is a surgical emergency in the newborn infant because it causes severe cardiorespiratory distress. Congenital diaphragmatic eventration [CDE] may also produce severe cardiorespiratory distress in the newborn infant. CDH is an anatomically simple defect that can be easily repaired by reduction of the displaced viscera from the pleural cavity and closure of the diaphragmatic defect. But these infants mortality has not been reduced and still remains very high. The barrier to survival is pulmonary parenchymal and vascular hypoplasia as well as the complex syndrome of persistent fetal circulation. Between May, 1985 and Oct, 1987, 4 neonates with CDH and 1 neonate with CDE were seen in respiratory distress within 12 hrs of birth at St. Francisco general hospital. Each had severe acidosis and hypoxia. And was transferred from a local clinic. They were surgically repaired within 24 hrs of birth. Three neonates lived and two died. Two of the three neonates with CDH operated in the first 6 hrs died. The remaining two [one with CDH, the other with CDE] operated between 6hrs and 24 hrs lived. One case of mortality was combined with bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia and contralateral pneumothorax. The other one case of mortality was combined with complex syndrome of persistent fetal circulation after honeymoon period.