Management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in preterm and low birth weight infants

Chao LIU; Ying WANG; Yandong WEI; Lishuang MA

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the treatment of preterm and low birth weight infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and to share the experience.

Methods:

This retrospective study enrolled 117 newborns with CDH who underwent major surgery at Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics from May 1, 2011, to March 31, 2022. Based on gestational age and birth weight, the infants were divided into the preterm and/or low birth weight group (gestational age < 37 weeks and/or birth weight less than 2 500 g, n=41) and the control group (gestational age ≥ 37 weeks and birth weight ≥ 2 500 g, n=76). Furthermore, the preterm and/or low birth weight infants were divided into the thoracoscopic surgery subgroup ( n=31) and the open surgery subgroup ( n=10) according to the surgical approach. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using two independent sample t-tests, rank sum tests, Chi-square test, or Fisher's exact probability test.

Results:

Preoperative data showed that the Apgar scores at 1 min [7.0 (6.0-8.0) vs 9.0 (8.0-9.8), Z=－4.03] and 5 min [9.0 (8.0-10.0) vs 9.0 (9.0-10.0), Z=－2.13] of the preterm and/or low birth weight infants were both lower than those in the control group (both P<0.05), while the proportion of infants with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension was higher [68.3% (28/41) vs 38.2% (29/76), χ 2=9.68, P<0.05]. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of the proportion of thoracoscopic surgery, operation time, right diaphragmatic hernia, presence of hernia sac, grading of the defect, presence of liver herniation, and application of mesh (all P>0.05). Regarding the postoperative outcomes, the death rate in the preterm and/or low birth weiht group was higher compared to the control group [36.6% (15/41) vs 13.2% (10/76), χ 2=8.70, P<0.05]. Additionally, the time required to resume full enteral nutrition after surgery was longer in the preterm and/or low birth weight group than that in the control group [25 d (18-29 d) vs 16 d (10-25 d), Z=2.31, P<0.05]. The thoracoscopic subgroup had a lower mortality compared to the open surgery subgroup [25.8% (8/31) vs 7/10, P<0.05]. The thoracoscopic surgery subgroup had a higher Apgar score at 1 min after birth [(7.4±1.6) vs (6.0±2.2), t=2.20, P<0.05], later age at operation (hours after birth) [31.0 h (23.0-48.0 h) vs 17.0 h (4.7-24.5 h), Z=2.57, P<0.05], a lower proportion of infants operated within 24 hours after birth [32.3% (10/31) vs 8/10, P<0.05], and longer duration of operation [170.0 min (122.0-200.0 min) vs 110.0 min (87.3-120.0 min), Z=3.65, P<0.05].

Conclusions:

In this study, a higher mortality in the preterm and/or low birth weight group compared to the control group was observed, which may be attributed to the higher proportion of neonates with moderate-severe pulmonary hypertension. The thoracoscopic diaphragmatic repair can be attempted for preterm and low birth weight infants who have relatively stable respiratory and circulatory functions.