Prediction and probability of neonatal outcome in isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia using multiple ultrasound parameters

Objectives To evaluate the accuracy and probabilities of different fetal ultrasound parameters to predict neonatal outcome in isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods Between January 2004 and December 2010, we evaluated prospectively 108 fetuses with isolated CDH (82 left‐sided and 26 right‐sided). The following parameters were evaluated: gestational age at diagnosis, side of the diaphragmatic defect, presence of polyhydramnios, presence of liver herniated into the fetal thorax (liver‐up), lung‐to‐head ratio (LHR) and observed/expected LHR (o/e‐LHR), observed/expected contralateral and total fetal lung volume (o/e‐ContFLV and o/e‐TotFLV) ratios, ultrasonographic fetal lung volume/fetal weight ratio (US‐FLW), observed/expected contralateral and main pulmonary artery diameter (o/e‐ContPA and o/e‐MPA) ratios and the contralateral vascularization index (Cont‐VI). The outcomes were neonatal death and severe postnatal pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Results Neonatal mortality was 64.8% (70/108). Severe PAH was diagnosed in 68 (63.0%) cases, of which 63 died neonatally (92.6%) (P < 0.001). Gestational age at diagnosis, side of the defect and polyhydramnios were not associated with poor outcome (P > 0.05). LHR, o/e‐LHR, liver‐up, o/e‐ContFLV, o/e‐TotFLV, US‐FLW, o/e‐ContPA, o/e‐MPA and Cont‐VI were associated with both neonatal death and severe postnatal PAH (P < 0.001). Receiver–operating characteristics curves indicated that measuring total lung volumes (o/e‐TotFLV and US‐FLW) was more accurate than was considering only the contralateral lung sizes (LHR, o/e‐LHR and o/e‐ContFLV; P < 0.05), and Cont‐VI was the most accurate ultrasound parameter to predict neonatal death and severe PAH (P < 0.001). Conclusions Evaluating total lung volumes is more accurate than is measuring only the contralateral lung size. Evaluating pulmonary vascularization (Cont‐VI) is the most accurate predictor of neonatal outcome. Estimating the probability of survival and severe PAH allows classification of cases according to prognosis. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.