Ductus arteriosus flow predicts outcome in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the pattern of flow through the ductus arteriosus (DA) is associated with the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (ECMO) or death in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

German level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

PARTICIPANTS

139 CDH neonates were born between March 2009 and May 2021.

METHODS

DA flow pattern was assessed in echocardiograms obtained within 24 h of life by measuring flow time and velocity time integral (VTI) for both left-to-right (LR) and right-to-left (RL) components of the ductal shunt. A VTI ratio (VTILR/VTIRL) < 1.0 and an RL relative flow time (Flow timeRL/(Flow timeLR+Flow timeRL)) >33% were defined as markers of abnormal flow patterns. The primary outcome was the need for ECMO. The secondary outcome was death.

RESULTS

72 patients (51.8%) had a VTI ratio <1.0, 73 (52.5%) an RL relative flow time >33%. 59 patients (42.4%) had an alteration of both values. Need for ECMO was present in 37.4% (n = 52), while 19.4% (n = 27) died. A VTI ratio <1.0 had the highest diagnostic accuracy for the need for ECMO, (sensitivity 82.7%, specificity 66.7%, negative predictive value [NPV] 86.6%, and positive predictive value [PPV] 59.7%) as well as for death (sensitivity 77.8%, specificity 54.5%, NPV 91.0%, and PPV 29.2%). Patients with VTI ratio <1.0 were 4.7 times more likely to need ECMO and 3.3 times more likely to die. VTI ratio values correlated significantly with pulmonary hypertension (PH) severity (r = -0.516, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A VTI ratio <1.0 is a valuable threshold to identify high-risk CDH neonates. For improved risk stratification, other parameters-for example, left ventricular cardiac dysfunction-should be combined with DA flow assessment.