Neurodevelopmental outcomes in CDH survivors: A single institution's experience

Abstract Purpose Survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) face high morbidity. We studied the neurodevelopmental outcomes of CDH survivors at a single institution. Methods CDH survivors born July 2006–March 2016 at a free-standing children's hospital were reviewed. Neurodevelopment was assessed using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2) broken into gross, fine, and total motor quotients. Data collected included prenatal variables (liver herniation, defect laterality, observed:expected total fetal lung volume (o:eTFLV) on MRI), birth demographics (sex, race, estimated gestational age (EGA), birth weight (BtWt), 5 min APGAR, associated anomalies), and therapies/hospital course (HFOV/HFJV, ECMO, timing of repair, pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) severity, length of stay, ventilator days). Variables were analyzed using mixed linear modeling. Results Sixty-eight children were included. Most patients had left-sided CDH (55/68, 81%) without liver herniation (42/68, 62%). ECMO utilization was 25/68 (37%). The mean [95% confidence interval] gross motor quotient for the entire cohort was 87 [84–91], fine motor quotient was 92 [88–96], and total motor quotient was 88 [84–93], representing below average, average, and below average functioning, respectively. o:eTFLV predicted fine motor quotient among prenatal variables. Associated anomalies and ECMO use predicted all quotients in the final model. Conclusions Associated anomalies and ECMO use predict neurodevelopmental delay in CDH survivors. Type of Study Retrospective observational study; Prognostic. Level of Evidence II.