Outcome in fetuses with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia with increased nuchal translucency thickness in first trimester

Fetal lung MRI and features predicting post-natal outcome: a scoping review of the current literature

The outcome for infants with fetal lung pathologies not only depends on the nature of the pathology, but the impact it has on the developing lungs. The main prognostic factor is the degree of pulmonary hypoplasia, but this is not detectable pre-natally. Imaging techniques aim to simulate these features with a variety of surrogate measurements, including lung volume and MRI signal intensity. Despite the complexity of the various research studies and lack of consistent methodology, this scoping review aims to summarise current applications, and promising techniques requiring further investigation.

Prenatal Diagnostic Value of Chromosomal Microarray in Fetuses with Nuchal Translucency Greater than 2.5 mm

Objective

To assess the clinical value of prenatal diagnosis using quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for the examination of genomic imbalances in prenatal amniotic fluid samples from fetuses with a nuchal translucency (NT) greater than or equal to 2.5 mm.

Materials and Methods

A total of 494 amniotic fluid samples and 5 chorionic villus samples were included in this study, with a fetal NT ≥ 2.5 mm at 11–13⁺⁶ weeks of gestation from November 2015 to December 2018. All cases were examined with QF-PCR, and those with normal QF-PCR results were then analyzed by CMA.

Results

Of the 499 cases, common aneuploidies were detected by QF-PCR in 61 (12.2%) cases. One case of triploidy, one case of trisomy 21 mosaicism, and two cases of X/XX mosaicism were further confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Among the 434 cases with normal QF-PCR results, microarray detected additional pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs) in 4.8% (21/434) of cases. Six cases would have been expected to be detectable by conventional karyotyping because of large deletions/duplications (>10 Mb), leaving fifteen (3.5%, 15/428) cases with pathogenic CNVs only detectable by CMA. Pathogenic CNVs, especially those <10 Mb, were centralized in cases with an NT < 4.5 mm, including 5 pathogenic CNVs in cases with an NT of 2.5–3.5 mm and 7 pathogenic CNVs in cases with an NT of 3.5–4.5 mm.

Conclusions

It is rational to use a diagnostic strategy in which CMA is preceded by a less-expensive, rapid method, namely, QF-PCR, to detect common aneuploidies. CMA allows for the detection of a number of pathogenic chromosomal aberrations in fetuses with an NT ≥ 2.5 mm.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia has a better prognosis when associated with a hernia sac

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate neonatal mortality and morbidity up to 6 months in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with or without a hernia sac.

METHODS

Seventy-two cases of isolated CDH were included in a retrospective single-center study between January 2010 and December 2016. Hernia sac was defined at the time of surgery or at postmortem examination if the neonate died before surgery.

RESULTS

Seventeen newborns (23.6%) had a hernia sac. Survival at 6 months was significantly greater for isolated CDH with a hernia sac: 100% versus 63.6% (P = .003). High-frequency oscillatory ventilation was used significantly more in the no hernia sac group (P = .04). At surgery, the need for patch repair was significantly lower in the hernia sac group: 12% versus 50% (P = .005). The prenatal observed/expected lung-to-head ratio was significantly higher in the hernia sac group than in the no hernia sac group: 49.7% versus 38.6% (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The presence of a hernia sac in CDH is associated with better outcome, especially survival at 6 months. If the presence of a hernia sac is recognized as a particular entity, which carries a good prognosis, it is necessary to be able to diagnose it prenatally, especially in the era of prenatal fetal surgery.

Lung size and liver herniation predict need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation but not pulmonary hypertension in isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To identify antenatal predictors of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review on antenatal diagnostic tests in fetuses with isolated CDH. The primary outcomes assessed were PPH within 28 days of age and the need for ECMO. Quality of studies was assessed with the QUADAS-2 tool. Meta-analysis was performed when at least three studies reported on the same test. Sensitivity analysis was performed according to prenatal management of CDH (tracheal occlusion vs expectant management).

RESULTS

Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen reported on the incidence of PPH only, 19 on the need for ECMO only and four reported on both outcomes. The general quality of the studies was moderate; most studies were retrospective (61%) and single-center series (92%). One study included only fetuses undergoing tracheal occlusion, 22 included only fetuses managed expectantly in utero and 15 included both populations. We could not identify antenatal predictors of PPH. The need for ECMO was predicted by parameters indicative of lung size: lung-to-head ratio (LHR) (relative risk (RR) for LHR < 1, 1.65 (95% CI, 1.27-2.14)) and observed/expected LHR (standardized mean difference (SMD), -0.70 (95% CI, -0.98 to -0.42)) measured by ultrasound and observed/expected total lung volume (SMD, -1.00 (95% CI, -1.52 to -0.48)) measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Liver herniation was also associated with an increased risk of need for ECMO (RR, 3.04 (95% CI, 2.23-4.14)). These results were confirmed by a sensitivity analysis of studies that included only expectantly managed cases. Data on vascular assessment for the prediction of PPH could not be pooled as most of the parameters were evaluated in a single series or in different series by the same principal investigator.

CONCLUSIONS

In fetuses with CDH, lung size and liver herniation predict the need for ECMO, however a predictor for PPH is still lacking. Further studies aimed at diagnosing impaired vascular development in utero should therefore be undertaken. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: does gestational age at diagnosis matter when evaluating morbidity and mortality?

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the investigation was to study the relationship between gestational age at diagnosis and mortality and morbidity in fetuses with an isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

STUDY DESIGN

Between January 2008 and November 2013, 377 live births with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed antenatally at a known gestational age were recorded in the database of the French National Center for Rare Diseases. The primary outcome studied was mortality estimated at 28 days and at 6 months. The secondary outcome was morbidity evaluated by pulmonary arterial hypertension at 48 hours, oxygen therapy dependence at 28 days, oral disorders, enteral feeding, and prosthetic patch repair. Analyses were adjusted for the main factors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia severity (side of the hernia, thoracic herniation of the liver, gestational age at birth, lung-to-head ratio, and prenatal treatment by tracheal occlusion.

RESULTS

Mortality rates at 28 days decreased significantly (P < .001) when gestational age at diagnosis increased: 61.1%, 39.2%, and 10.4% for a diagnosis in the first, second, and third trimester, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios were 3.12 [95% confidence interval, 1.86-5.25] and 0.35 [95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.66] for a diagnosis in the first and third trimesters, respectively, compared with a diagnosis in the second trimester. Similarly, morbidity decreased significantly when gestational age at diagnosis increased, and the trend remained significant after adjustment for the main factors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia severity (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Gestational age at diagnosis is an independent predictor of postnatal prognosis for children presenting an isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia and should be taken into account when estimating postnatal morbidity and mortality.