Fig. 1: Summary of study timeline.

a First lung imaging performed during representative respiratory support before surgery (pre-repair) to close the congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). At this timepoint the left (ipsilateral) lung is hypoplastic and lung movement in both lungs (but especially the left) is restricted by hernia contents in thorax. b Second lung imaging performed as soon as possible (defined by clinical stability) after CDH repair (post-repair). At which point the left lung is likely to be as equally hypoplastic as in pre-repair state, but movement is not restricted by herniated contents in thorax. c Pre-discharge imaging undertaken at time clinical team commenced discharge planning. This timepoint was variable and defined not on absolute time from surgery but rather functional state. Lower panels demonstrate representative functional electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images (no lung region filter) during a single respiratory cycle at each timepoint.¹² Magnitude of tidal ventilation in each lung region is expressed using a colour scale from dark blue (minimum) to light blue/white (maximum). Abbreviations: R right, L left, V ventral, D dorsal (dotted line demarcates ipsilateral [left] and contralateral [right] hemithorax).¹²