Congenital diaphragmatic hernia requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: does timing of repair matter?

Benjamin S. Bryner, Brady T. West, Ronald B. Hirschl, Robert A. Drongowski, Kevin P. Lally, Pamela Lally, George B. Mychaliska*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with high mortality. Timing of CDH repair relative to ECMO therapy remains controversial. Our hypothesis was that survival would significantly differ between those who underwent repair during ECMO and those who underwent repair after ECMO therapy. Methods: We examined deidentified data from the CDH study group (CDHSG) registry from 1995 to 2005 on patients who underwent repair and ECMO therapy (n = 636). We used Cox regression analysis to assess differences in survival between those who underwent repair during and after ECMO. Results: Five covariates were significantly associated with mortality as follows: timing of repair relative to ECMO (P = .03), defect side (P = .01), ECMO run length (P < .01), need for patch repair (P = .03), birth weight (P < .01), and Apgar score at 5 minutes (P = .03). Birth year, inborn vs transfer status, diaphragmatic agenesis, age at repair, and presence of cardiac or chromosomal abnormalities were not associated with survival. Repair after ECMO therapy was associated with increased survival relative to repair on ECMO (hazard ratio, 1.407; P = .03). Conclusion: These data suggest that CDH repair after ECMO therapy is associated with improved survival compared to repair on ECMO, despite controlling for factors associated with the severity of CDH.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1165-1172
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of pediatric surgery
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2009

Funding

This research was supported by University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich) Clinical and Translational Science Award grant no. UL1RR024986.

Keywords

  • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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