Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with right congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A population-based study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare RCDH to LCDH from the perspective of prenatal diagnosis, illness severity, treatment, and outcome. Methods A retrospective study of all cases of CDH registered in the Canadian Pediatric Surgery Network (CAPSNet) database from 2005 to 2013 was conducted. Side of defect comparisons were made by prenatal diagnostic features, birth demographic data, intensity of medical treatment, timing and type of surgery, and outcomes. Outcomes prediction with logistic regression modeling using side of defect as an exploratory covariate was performed. Results The study cohort included 498 patients, of which 84 (17%) cases had RCDH. Prenatal diagnosis was more commonly made for LCDH. No difference existed in perinatal risk factors (GA, illness severity (SNAP-II) score, associated anomalies), preoperative treatment intensity (use of vasodilators, inotropes), timing of surgery, ventilation days, need for ECMO, LOS, and overall survival. Significant differences between RCDH and LCDH were detected for patch repair rate (48.2% vs. 30.6%; p = 0.036) and recurrence (4.1% vs. 0.6%; p = 0.038). Stepwise regression modeling identified side of hernia as independently predictive of need for patch. Conclusions Overall, little difference exists between RCDH and LCDH in terms of prognostic factors and outcomes.