Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Perinatal Prognostic Factors and Short-Term Outcomes in a Single-Center Series

Background: Many prognostic factors for CDH patients are described and validated in the current literature: the size of diaphragmatic defects, need for patch repair, pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular dysfunction are recognized as the most influencing outcomes. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of these parameters in the outcome of CDH patients in our department and identify any further prognostic factors. Methods: An observational retrospective single-center study was conducted including all patients treated at our centre with posterolateral CDH between 01.01.1997 and 12.31.2019. The main outcomes evaluated were mortality and length of hospital stay. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed. Results: We identified 140 patients with posterolateral CDH; 34.8% died before discharge. The overall median length of stay was 24 days. A univariate analysis confirmed that both outcomes are associated with the size of diaphragmatic defects, need for patch repair and presence of spleen-up (p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis identified that the need for patch repair and maximum dopamine dose used for cardiac dysfunction are independent parameters associated with the length of stay only (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In our series, the duration of hospitalization is longer for newborns with CDH treated with higher doses of dopamine for left ventricular dysfunction or needing patch repair in large diaphragmatic defects.