[Prenatal diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: evaluation of the prognosis].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic prenatal factors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We designed a retrospective study of 34 patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The infants were delivered at the Edouard Herriot Hospital between September 1, 1994 and June 30, 1998. We excluded cases of pregnancy termination. After eliminating 4 cases, we studied 30. The factors studied were: polyhydramnios, transverse abdominal diameter, hepatic and umbilical vein deviation, mediastinal deviation, intrathoracic location of the stomach. Prenatal karyotype and echocardiography were systematically obtained.

RESULTS

Total perinatal mortality was 53% and was 48% in case of unique diaphragmatic hernia. Prognosis was poorer if the diaphragmatic hernia was associated with another malformation (perinatal mortality: 80%, 4/5 cases), or in case of preterm delivery (83%, 5/6 cases). Factors associated with poor prognosis were: polyhydramnios, transverse abdominal diameter below the 5(th) percentile and major hepatic deviation. Diagnosis before 25 weeks was not associated with poor prognosis. Intrathoracic stomach was a good diagnostic sign, but did not allow an assessment of prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia was made before 25 weeks in 77% of the cases. It was not a factor of poor prognosis. As other authors, we found that prenatal association with another malformation (especially cardiac malformation) polyhydramnios, deviation of the liver, and abdominal transverse diameter below the 5(th) percentile were factors of poor prognosis. But it was difficult to determine the prenatal prognosis. Improvement is needed.