Increase in fetal pulmonary artery diameters during late gestation is a predictor of outcome in congenital diaphragmatic hernia with liver herniation.

Aim: Liver herniation (LH) in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) may not be a reliable prognostic indicator. We measured pulmonary artery (PA) diameters in CDH + LH as an alternative.

Methods: Of 41 consecutive cases of prenatally diagnosed left-sided CDH treated from 2002 to 2010, 19 had CDH + LH and 22 had CDH - LH. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to assess LH and echocardiography to measure PA diameters during the third trimester (fetal; 32-34 weeks), at birth, and on day 2 of life.

Results: In CDH + LH survivors (9/19; 47%), fetal right PA (RPA) diameters were significantly larger than in nonsurvivors (2.58 ± 0.56 vs 1.82 ± 0.35 mm; P < .01), but left PA (LPA) diameters were not (1.73 ± 0.38 vs 1.59 ± 0.22). In survivors, fetal RPA was greater than 2 mm in all but one case, and both PA diameters increased significantly by birth (RPA, 2.58 ± 0.56 vs 3.52 ± 0.54; LPA, 1.73 ± 0.38 vs 2.60 ± 0.40; both P < .01). Final diameters at birth in survivors were at least 2.5 and 2.0 mm, respectively. In nonsurvivors, both PAs were significantly smaller (RPA, 3.52 ± 0.54 vs 2.04 ± 0.31; LPA, 2.60 ± 0.40 vs 1.68 ± 0.18; P < .01), with no observed increase by birth. Survival in CDH - LH was 82% (18/22).

Conclusion: PA diameter appears to be correlated with prognosis in infants with CDH + LH.