Intravesical pressure: A new prognostic indicator in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

AIMS: To evaluate the usefulness of intravesical pressure as a prognostic indicator in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 25 cases, bladder pressure was measured intraoperatively during repair. RESULTS: Cases were divided into three groups according to the intravesical pressure. Group 1: pressure <10 cm (n.9), Group 2: 10–15 cm (n.11) and Group 3: >15 cm (n.5). Number of ventilated days was tabulated against these groups. Median number of ventilated days for Group 1, with the lowest pressure, was 3 days, while that for Group 2 was 5 and for Group 3, with the highest pressure, was 10 days. This was significant, with a P-value of 0.016. CONCLUSION: Measurement of intravesical pressure is a reliable prognostic indicator in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. It also helps in predicting postoperative ventilatory requirement.