Risk factors and outcome of antenatally diagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia following in-utero transfer in a busy public-sector tertiary care center in North India

We analyzed the risk factors and outcomes of antenatally diagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) from a tertiary-care children’s hospital following in-utero transfer. A total of 41 antenatally detected cases of CDH were included; 30 were live-born and 11 were still-born. The primary outcome was postnatal survival. The secondary outcome was the probable factor affecting survival. No medical termination of the pregnancy was done. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 23 weeks. The diagnostic accuracy of antenatal ultrasonography was 40/41 (97.5%). Lung-to-head ratio (LHR) was <1 in 20 cases (survived 2), LHR was >1 in 10 cases (survived 8), and LHR was not recorded in 11 cases (survived 4). Overall survival was 14/41 (34.1%). Survival in fetuses with polyhydramnios was 0% (n=3; survived 0), associated anomalies were 33.3% (n=3; survived 1), and liver herniation was 22.2% (n=9; survived 2). Postnatally, significant risk factors included a low Apgar score, the need for ventilation, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) management. Survival in live-born cases was 14/30 (46.6%) and in operated cases was 14/19 (73.6%). We concluded that antenatal ultrasound had a high accuracy rate for detecting CDH. Antenatal risk factors affecting outcomes were low LHR, maternal polyhydramnios, liver herniation, and associated malformations. Postnatal risk factors included a low Apgar score, NICU admission, and a need for ventilation. The overall survival rate, as well as the survival rates for live-borns and those undergoing surgery, were 34.1%, 46.6%, and 73.6%, respectively. This data will guide clinicians in counseling the families of antenatally diagnosed CDH.