Persisting Motor Function Problems in School-Aged Survivors of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Prevalence and early surgical outcome of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the Netherlands: a population-based cohort study from the European Pediatric Surgical Audit

BACKGROUND

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare birth defect with substantial mortality. This study aims to generate a population-based overview of CDH care and outcomes in the Netherlands. Moreover, it assesses interhospital variations between the two Dutch CDH expert centres.

METHODS

This study uses data from the Dutch branch of the European Pediatric Surgical Audit, a prospective clinical audit for congenital anomalies. Data of all patients with CDH treated between 2014 and 2021 were included for epidemiological analysis. For comparative analyses, patients presenting after the neonatal period or not treated in the two CDH expert centres were excluded. Identified interhospital variations were assessed using regression analysis.

RESULTS

In the study period, 283 children with CDH were born, resulting in a national prevalence rate of 2.06/10 000 live births. The patient population, treatment and outcomes at 1 year were comparable between the hospitals, except for length of hospital stay. Regression analysis identified the treating hospital as the strongest significant predictor thereof. Other factors associated with longer length of stay include the presence of other malformations, intrathoracic liver position on prenatal ultrasound, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment, patch repair, complicated postoperative course and discharge to home rather than to another care facility.

CONCLUSION

Outcomes of CDH care throughout the Netherlands are comparable. However, the length of stay differed between the two hospitals, also when adjusting for other covariates. Further qualitative analysis to explain this interhospital variation is indicated. Our findings underscore the potential of clinical auditing as a quality measurement tool in rare conditions.

Long-term follow-up of patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia encounter a number of surgical and medical morbidities that persist into adulthood. As mortality improves for this population, these survivors warrant specialized follow-up for their unique disease-specific morbidities. Multidisciplinary congenital diaphragmatic hernia clinics are best positioned to address these complex long-term morbidities, provide long-term research outcomes, and help inform standardization of best practices in this cohort of patients. This review outlines long-term morbidities experienced by congenital diaphragmatic hernia survivors that can be addressed in a comprehensive follow-up clinic.

Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion for Severe, Left-Sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: The North American Fetal Therapy Network Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion Consortium Experience

OBJECTIVE

To report the outcomes of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion in a multicenter North American cohort of patients with isolated, left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and to compare neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia who underwent fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion with those expectantly managed.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 10 centers in the NAFTNet (North American Fetal Therapy Network) FETO (Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion) Consortium registry, collected between November 1, 2008, and December 31, 2020. In addition to reporting procedure-related surgical outcomes of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion, we performed a comparative analysis of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion compared with contemporaneous expectantly managed patients.

RESULTS

Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion was successfully performed in 87 of 89 patients (97.8%). Six-month survival in patients with severe left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia did not differ significantly between patients who underwent fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion and those managed expectantly (69.8% vs 58.1%, P =.30). Patients who underwent fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion had higher rates of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (54.0% vs 14.3%, P <.001), earlier gestational age at delivery (median 35.0 weeks vs 38.3 weeks, P <.001), and lower birth weights (mean 2,487 g vs 2,857 g, P =.001). On subanalysis, in patients for whom all recorded observed-to-expected lung/head ratio measurements were below 25%, patients with fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion required fewer days of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (median 9.0 days vs 17.0 days, P =.014).

CONCLUSION

In this cohort, fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion was successfully implemented across several North American fetal therapy centers. Although survival was similar among patients undergoing fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion and those expectantly managed, fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion in North American centers may reduce morbidity, as suggested by fewer days of ECMO in those patients with persistently reduced lung volumes (observed-to-expected lung/head ratio below 25%).

Cardiopulmonary Morbidity in Adults Born With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

OBJECTIVES

Studies concerning cardiopulmonary outcomes of adults born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are sparse. Moreover, they don't include participants who have been treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during the neonatal period. This study evaluated the cardiopulmonary morbidities in young adults born with CDH.

METHODS

We assessed 68 participants between the ages of 18 and 30 years. The assessment included auxology assessment, lung function tests, pulmonary imaging, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and echocardiography.

RESULTS

Lung function parameters in the overall group were significantly worse than normal values. Mean (SD) scores postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second were -2.91 (1.38) in the ECMO-treated and -1.20 (1.53) in the non-ECMO-treated participants. Chest computed tomography scans showed mild to moderate abnormal lung structure in all ECMO-treated participants, and to a lesser extent in non-ECMO treated participants. A recurrent diaphragmatic defect was observed in 77% of the ECMO-treated group and in 43% of the non-ECMO-treated group. Except for 2 cases with acute symptoms, no clinical problems were noted in cases of recurrence. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing revealed mean (SD) percentage predicted peak oxygen consumption per kilogram of 73 (14)% and 88 (16)% in ECMO-treated and non-ECMO-treated participants, respectively. The mean (SD) workload was normal in the non-ECMO-treated group (111 [25]% predicted); in the ECMO-treated group, it was 89 (23)%. Cardiac evaluation at rest revealed no signs of pulmonary hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

In young adults who survived treatment of CDH, significant pulmonary morbidity, reduced exercise capacity, and frequent hernia recurrence should be anticipated. Lifelong follow-up care, with the emphasis on prevention of further decline, is to be recommended.

Long-term neurodevelopment in children with resected congenital lung abnormalities

To determine whether children who underwent resection of a congenital lung abnormality (CLA) are at higher risk for neurodevelopmental impairments than peers in the general population. The study population consisted of children born between 1999-2018 who underwent resection of a symptomatic CLA. Neurocognitive development (intelligence, memory, attention, visuospatial processing, executive functioning) and motor function of this population are monitored through our structured, prospective longitudinal follow-up program at the ages of 30 months, 5, 8, and 12 years. We compared study population scores with Dutch norm values using one-sample t-tests and one-sample binominal proportion tests. Forty-seven children were analyzed. The 8-year-olds showed significant impairments in sustained attention through the Dot Cancellation Test (mean z-scores -2.4; [-4.1; -0.8], p = 0.006 and -7.1; [-12.8; -1.4], p = 0.02 for execution speed and fluctuations respectively). Visuospatial memory was impaired at 8 years, though only in 1 out of 3 assessment tools (Rey Complex Figure Test z-scores (-1.0; [-1.5; -0.5], p < 0.001). Further neurocognitive outcomes were unimpaired at all tested ages. Regarding motor function outcomes, mean z-scores of total motor functioning were unimpaired across assessed ages. However, at 8 years, significantly more children than expected had definite motor problems (18% vs 5%, 95% CI [0.052; 0.403], p = 0.022).   Conclusion: This evaluation reveals impairment in some subtests of sustained attention, visuospatial memory and motor development. However, globally, normal neurodevelopmental outcomes were found throughout childhood. We recommend testing for neurodevelopmental impairments in children who underwent surgery for CLA only if associated morbidities are present or if caregivers express doubts about their daily functioning. What is Known: • In general, surgically managed CLA cases seldom suffer from long-term surgery-related morbidity and show favorable lung function. What is New: • Long-term neurocognitive and motor function outcome appear unimpaired within surgically managed CLA cases. We recommend testing for neurodevelopmental impairments in children who underwent surgery for CLA only if associated morbidities are present or if caregivers express doubts about their daily functioning.

The impact of intestinal atresia on educational and mental health outcomes in school-aged children: A case-control cohort study

PURPOSE

To assess real-world educational outcomes, neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health disorders in patients with intestinal atresia (IA) and compare these to outcomes to age-matched controls.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective case-control study of children with IA born between 1991 and 2017. We evaluated educational outcomes using an Early Developmental Instrument, Grades 3, 7 and 8 assessments, Grade 9 completion and performance, high school graduation, and neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders using International Classification of Diseases codes available from a population-based dataset.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 94 IA cases and 940 date-of-birth-matched controls. Cases with chromosomal anomalies were more likely to fail the Early Developmental Instrument (OR = 2.88, p = 0.037), Grade 8 reading (OR = 2.94, p = 0.043) and Grade 12 (OR = 3.25, p = 0.036); cases without chromosomal anomalies were at no greater risk than their peers of failing to meet expectations and did not have an increased risk of anxiety (OR = 0.48, p = 0.12), depression (OR = 0.74, p = 0.6) or hyperactivity disorder (OR = 1.92, p = 0.087).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that IA patients without chromosomal anomalies are not at higher risk of neurodevelopmental and mental health disorders than controls. These results will offer more accurate outcome predictions for parents of children with IA.