Liver position and lung-to-head ratio for prediction of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and survival in isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of liver position and lung-to-head ratio to predict outcome in isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia.



We reviewed prenatal studies and postnatal outcomes of congenital diaphragmatic hernia between January 1996 and January 2006.



Eighty-nine patients received prenatal and postnatal care at 1 institution. In fetuses with liver up, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required in 39 of 49 fetuses (80%), compared with 10 of 40 fetuses (25%) for those with liver down (P < .0001). Overall survival rate was 45%, compared with 93% for those with liver down (P < .00005). Low lung-to-head ratio (<1.0) predicted increased incidence of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (75%; P = .036) and lower survival (35%; P = .0003). However, when measured at <24 weeks of gestation, lung-to-head ratio was not predictive of outcome (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, P = .108; survival, P = .150); liver position remained highly predictive (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, P = .006; survival, P = .001).



Liver position is the best prenatal predictor of outcome in isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Lung-to-head ratio alone should not be used to counsel families regarding mid gestational management choices.
Hedrick
Holly L
HL
Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Danzer
Enrico
E
Merchant
Aziz M
AM
Bebbington
Michael W
MW
Zhao
Huaqing
H
Flake
Alan W
AW
Johnson
Mark P
MP
Liechty
Kenneth W
KW
Howell
Lori J
LJ
Wilson
R Douglas
RD
Adzick
N Scott
NS
D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal