Purpose: In infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), somatic growth and pulmonary development are key issues beyond the time of intensive care treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate the somatic growth and pulmonary function after discharge and to compare CDH patients with a group of matched controls.
Methods: Anthropometric measurements and lung function tests were performed in 26 infants after surgical repair of CDH and 26 non-CDH intensive care patients, matched for gestational age and birth weight. Spontaneously breathing infants were tested at a mean of 44 weeks postconceptional age (range, 36-58 weeks). Body weight, body length, respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (V(T)), functional residual capacity by body plethysmography (FRC(pleth)), respiratory compliance (C(rs)), and respiratory resistance (R(rs)) were measured.
Results: The mean (SD) weight gain per week in the CDH infants was significantly lower compared to non-CDH infants (89 [39] g vs 141 [49] g; P = .002). The breathing pattern between both groups differed considerably. In CDH infants, V(T) was significantly lower (P < .001) and RR significantly higher (P = .005). The respiratory compliance was also significantly (P < .001) reduced, whereas R(rs) did not differ significantly. No statistically significant differences were seen in FRC(pleth) related to the body weight between CDH and non-CDH infants (20.3 [4.4] mL/kg vs 21.5 [4.9] mL/kg).
Conclusion: Despite apparently well-inflated lungs after surgery, evidence of early and significantly reduced weight gain and impaired lung function in CHD patients should prompt careful dietary monitoring and regular lung function testing.