Introduction

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare congenital anomaly of the diaphragm with an incidence of approximately 1 per 2,500 births. Typically, the abdominal organs will herniate into the chest cavity, with resulting maldevelopment of the alveoli and pulmonary vessels [1]. The defect is usually, reportedly in 84% of the cases, located on the left side of the diaphragm. Right-sided CDH and bilateral CDH, which occur in 14 and 2% of cases, are associated with a worse prognosis [2]. CDH can present as an isolated defect or in combination with other congenital anomalies, such as congenital heart disease or chromosomal anomalies [2].

The condition may be life threatening. Mortality rates in live-born patients range from 10 to 35% [3–6]. The true mortality may even be higher when taking into account antenatal death or termination of pregnancy [7]. Key determinants of mortality are the severity of pulmonary hypoplasia and the presence of pulmonary hypertension [1]. Smaller number and generations of airways, thickened alveolar septa, and abnormal architecture of the respiratory acinus characterize pulmonary hypoplasia. Pulmonary hypertension may result from the abnormal pulmonary vasculature associated with underdevelopment of the lung [8].

In the earlier days, CDH was regarded as a surgical emergency and postnatal care was mainly directed towards early repair of the defect [9]. The 1990s, however, saw improved survival rates from ‘delayed’ surgical repair, i.e. after 2 or 3 days’ physiologic stabilization with a ‘gentle’ ventilation strategy, such as permissive hypercapnia [4, 6]. This has now become the initial treatment strategy. The improved survival rates may also be related to advances in neonatal care, such as extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) [3, 10, 11]. Nevertheless, surviving neonates still carry a substantial risk of developing secondary morbidity, such as cardiopulmonary, gastro-intestinal and neurological problems [12].

Recently, a number of reviews were published either dealing with specific center experience or reviewing the different treatment modalities [2, 13]. Progress in CDH is hampered by the relative low number in over 80% of centers (less than ten cases a year); the absence of international therapy guidelines and the lack of evidence of many therapeutic modalities. As a consequence, the problem of CDH can be classified as fivefold:

  • nearly absent knowledge of the etiology,

  • variability of phenotype and absence of accepted parameters of pre- and postnatal prediction of outcome and targeted intervention,

  • absence of properly designed clinical trials with enough power to determine optimal therapy for respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary hypertension,

  • lack of interdisciplinary structured follow-up and a database to evaluate morbidity throughout childhood and

  • translation of data of animal models of CDH for clinical practice.

In order to study these problems, the international CDH Euro-Consortium was started in 2006 to enhance collaboration in these areas of interest.

Etiology

Between the 4th and 12th week of gestation, the diaphragm arises from the septum transversum, the pleuroperitoneal folds, the esophageal mesentery, and partly from the thoracic body wall. The neuromuscular component of the diaphragm may be formed by myogenic cells and axons which coalesce with the pleuroperitoneal folds [14, 15].

Several hypotheses have been suggested in search for an explanation of the embryologic events that lead to defective development of the diaphragm. A strong candidate is mesenchymal malformation of the pleuroperitoneal folds [14]. Moreover, the ‘dual hit’ hypothesis has suggested that there is an early insult in lung development before diaphragm development, followed by further lung growth restriction later in gestation [16]. It is still not clear, however, whether the pulmonary hypoplasia induces or results from the diaphragmatic defect.

It is also believed that several genetic and environmental factors may play a role in the development of CDH. One such environmental factor, as evidenced from animal models of CDH, is retinoic acid (RA), a derivative from vitamin A. It has a key role in embryonic development, including the diaphragm and the lungs [17]. Disturbances in the RA pathway by gene knock-outs, teratogens or maternal vitamin A deficiency may lead to the development of CDH [14, 18, 19]. Furthermore, retinol plasma concentrations in CDH patients may be lower than those in healthy newborns [20]. At least, administration of RA at the end of pregnancy was found to stimulate alveolar development in rats with CDH [18].

Aneuploidies, genetic syndromes and structural abnormalities of chromosomes, such as deletions, duplications, inversions and translocations, may indicate the involvement of genetic factors. The most reported aneuploidies in CDH patients are trisomy 13, 18, 21 and 45X, the most reported genetic syndrome is Fryns syndrome [21, 22]. The transcription factor COUP-TF2, situated on chromosome 15q26, is one of the most likely candidate loci for CDH [23]. Essential for normal limb- and skeletal muscle development, COUP-TF2 is instrumental in the RA signaling pathway and interacts with other CDH candidate genes such as FOG2 [19, 24]. Mutations in FOG2 cause abnormal diaphragmatic development and pulmonary hypoplasia [25]. Thus, both genetic anomalies and disturbances in RA metabolism may be involved in the development of CDH.

Research questions

  • To determine the role of (epi) genetic deletions and duplications associated with CDH and their influence on pathways involved in pulmonary and diaphragm development.

  • To study other yet unidentified genetic mechanisms and possible candidate genes, which may cause abnormal embryonic development of lungs and diaphragm.

  • To investigate the specific role of the RA-pathway and the way in which maternal and/or neonatal disturbances in vitamin A metabolism may influence the severity of lung hypoplasia and outcome.

  • To study other possible signaling pathways in CDH lungs, which may be involved in pulmonary and diaphragm development.

  • To identify environmental factors, such as teratogenic factors, which may influence prenatal lung development.

Antenatal management

More-detailed ultrasound techniques allow for prenatal detection of CDH in almost 60% of the cases [26]. Several prenatal predictors have been proposed to determine postnatal chances of survival. These predictors may also be used to determine the need for fetal surgery.

The lung-to-head ratio (LHR), first described by Metkus et al. [29], is the most used prenatal predictor of survival in fetuses who have CDH [27–30]. It is obtained by dividing the contralateral lung area to the fetal head circumference [27]. Good predictive value has been reported for isolated cases of left-sided CDH, especially when the liver is in intrathoracic position [29, 31–33]. Others, however, doubt whether the LHR could predict postnatal outcome [34, 35]. A debatable point is the inter-observer variety that may occur. Moreover, suitability of the LHR as a predictor of survival in right-sided CDH has not yet been documented [36]. Furthermore, LHR may also dependent on the gestational age at measurement and may be less reliable in mid-gestation [30, 37]. The observed-expected LHR, which is independent of the timing of assessment, may therefore be regarded as a better prenatal predictor [38].

Recently, the fetal lung volume (FLV) has been proposed as a prenatal predictor of survival in fetuses with CDH. The lower the FLV, the lower the chance of survival and the higher the need for ECMO [39, 40]. It is mostly measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a reliable method with good interobserver agreement for measurement of the FLV [41]. Being dependent on the gestational age at measurement it is best described as a ratio of the measured volume to the expected volume [42]. Recently, the observer-to-expected FLV has been reported to be a better predictor of survival than the observed-to-expected LHR [43].

Until now, the LHR is usually considered in combination with the liver’s position to predict postnatal survival. In isolated cases of CDH, a LHR < 1.0 in combination with an intrathoracic position of the liver is considered unfavorable and warranting a fetal surgical intervention [27, 28]. The intervention is a fetal tracheal occlusion (FETO) procedure, based on the principle that plugging of the trachea, by means of a balloon, will enhance lung growth. Outcomes of FETO procedures in CDH pregnancies vary. Some studies reported higher survival rates after a FETO procedure, but others mentioned complications such as premature rupture of membranes or premature birth [28].

Prenatal prediction of survival confronts parents and doctors with difficult decisions on treatment strategies and possible prenatal interventions. So far, it is not yet clear which is the most reliable prenatal predictor of survival. Measurement of the FLV by MRI has shown promising results. However, the high costs and restricted availability of MRI systems may limit its clinical application.

Research questions

  • To determine sensitive and specific prenatal predictors of mortality and morbidity, which may be used to justify the need for fetal surgical intervention in specific cases of CDH.

  • To investigate the importance of routine fetal lung imaging, by either MRI or ultrasound, for predicting outcome.

Postnatal management

Critical care during the first hours of life

Prenatal diagnosis of CDH calls for delivery in a high-volume center with expertise in the care for newborns with CDH. A planned delivery, either an induced vaginal delivery or a caesarean section, is a good option because most babies with CDH immediately present with cardiorespiratory stress. Physical examination may reveal a barrel-shaped chest, a scaphoid abdomen, absence of breathing sounds at the ipsilateral side, shifted cardiac sounds, and bowel sounds in the chest. A chest X-ray may show subnormal lung expansion and herniated bowels, filled with air or fluid, at the side of the defect. A small abdominal cavity may be seen, as well as displacement of the heart and other mediastinal structures to the contralateral side. Liver herniation may appear as a large soft tissue mass in the thoracic cavity, in which case there is no intra-abdominal liver shadow.

Immediate intubation is almost always indicated. To further help lung expansion and decompression of the abdominal contents, a nasogastric tube with continuous or intermittent suction and an enema are indicated. Bag masking may lead to gastro-abdominal distension and therefore has to be avoided. Ventilation management in the delivery room consists of conventional mechanical ventilation or ventilation by ventilation bag. Peak pressures should be as low as possible, preferably below 25 cm H2O, with a FiO2 of 1.0.

Blood pressure support should be given to maintain arterial blood pressure levels at a normal level for gestational age. In case of severe right-to-left shunting, higher blood pressures (meaning above ≥50 mmHg) have to be pursued. In case of hypotension and/or poor perfusion, isotonic fluid therapy (10–20 ml/kg) may be given, preferentially based on cardiac ultrasounds evaluating function and contractility of the heart. Further blood pressure support consists of administration of inotropic agents, with dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dobutamine as primary drugs of choice.

Newborns with CDH will be sedated and anaesthetized. Depth of sedation has to be evaluated by validated analgesia and sedation scoring systems, such as the COMFORT Scale [44]. Paralysis should be avoided, as it may have negative adverse effects on ventilation. However, paralyzing medical treatment may be used as a rescue therapy.

Ventilatory support

Pulmonary maldevelopment and asymmetry of the chest cavity seen in CDH makes ventilation a major challenge. Prolonged mechanical ventilation and oxygen toxicity may cause lung damage, which is predisposing to the development of chronic lung disease. In children, this is defined as pulmonary morbidity as a consequence of an acute neonatal respiratory disorder, and characterized by abnormal alveolarization and pulmonary vascular development [45–48]. Overdistension of the lungs and oxygen toxicity may be responsible for capillary leakage in the endothelium and epithelium, rupture of the basement membrane, leakage of fluid in the alveolar spaces, a general inflammatory response, and impaired surfactant secretion [2]. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms coding for vascular endothelial growth factor may be risk factors for developing chronic lung disease in newborns [49]. The best-known type of chronic lung disease in infants is bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which occurs mostly in premature and low-birth weight infants. Despite the fact that they are usually born at term, one-third of newborns with CDH will develop BPD versus 20% of preterm infants [46, 50, 51].

Researchers have sought to reduce the risk of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and subsequent pulmonary morbidity by means of optimizing ventilation strategies. Since Wung et al. reported improved survival rates using a ‘gentle’ ventilation strategy, this has become the cornerstone for ventilation management in newborns with CDH [6, 52, 53]. ‘Gentle’ ventilation is based on low peak inspiratory pressures, oxygen saturations of >80%, and toleration of a rise in CO2 level. This strategy is also called permissive hypercapnia [2, 53]. Aggressive ventilation strategies with high peak inspiratory pressures cannot always be avoided, however, especially in centers without ECMO facilities.

A new method, high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFO), was proposed to increase survival and reduce BPD in newborns with CDH [53–57]. It effectively achieves adequate gas exchange by means of an oscillatory pump, which combines very high respiratory rates with low tidal volumes. HFO is claimed to reduce the severity of lung injury induced by mechanical ventilation, by promoting uniform lung inflation, reducing barotrauma, and decreasing the activity of inflammatory mediators [53, 58–61]. It is mostly indicated when hypercarbia persists, refractory to conventional ventilation. Nevertheless, some centers also use HFO as an initial ventilation strategy. Observational and retrospective studies have suggested that HFO is a safe ventilation strategy in preterm infants as well as in term neonates [53–56, 61]. However, a Cochrane review found only a borderline significant reduction in the rate of chronic lung disease in preterm infants with the elective use of HFO as compared with conventional ventilation [59]. A second Cochrane review described the use of HFO as a rescue therapy when conventional ventilation failed in term and near-term infants with severe pulmonary dysfunction. Only one trial compared these two ventilation strategies prospectively, resulting in no significant differences in outcome, need for ECMO, or complications [61, 62]. On the negative side, HFO may cause lung hyperinflation, which may give rise to higher alveolar and mean airway pressures in some patients. The adverse effects on venous return and pulmonary vascular resistance may then increase the risk of pulmonary barotrauma and hemodynamic instability [53].

So far, there are only retrospective studies comparing the use of HFO and conventional ventilation in newborns with CDH. In one such study the use of HFO prevented hyperventilation as well as the need for ECMO [55]. Other studies showed effective CO2 reduction and increased survival in neonates with CDH and a lower incidence of chronic lung disease with elective use of HFO. A limitation of these studies is that they compared different eras and that therapy protocol was not standardized. Therefore, the results might have been positively influenced by other improvements in neonatal medicine during the last decades [53, 55–57].

Although suggested in many papers, newborns with CDH have no surfactant deficiency [50]. Surfactant inactivation may result either from underdevelopment of the lungs or from mechanical ventilation and oxygen toxicity [63–66]. A large retrospective study reported no benefit of surfactant therapy in newborns with CDH. In fact, survival rates in surfactant-treated patients were lower, and both the need of ECMO and the incidence of chronic lung disease were higher [67]. Moreover, surfactant therapy may have adverse side effects such as severe hypotension. Therefore, the use of surfactant is not recommended.

Research questions

  • To investigate the best primary ventilation mode in newborns with CDH to prevent VILI and thus decreasing mortality and pulmonary morbidity.

  • To determine underlying (epi) genetic mechanisms, which may predispose newborns with CDH to develop chronic lung disease.

  • To investigate biomarkers, which may be used to determine the degree of VILI, lung repair, remodeling and possible compensatory lung growth.

  • To study pre- and postnatal factors, such as immunologic, nutritional and environmental factors, and their possible interactions with each other, which may contribute to postnatal lung repair.

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension

As stated before, pulmonary hypertension is a major cause of mortality in infants with CDH. Severe pulmonary hypertension usually presents several hours after birth, after an initial period of relative stability [68]. In healthy neonates, pulmonary vascular resistance decreases after birth as a result of oxygenation, shear stress and ventilation. This does not occur in all newborns with CDH, and the pulmonary vascular walls may remain thickened as a consequence. Pulmonary hypertension is essentially a reversible process, but may become chronic if treatment should fail. Chronic pulmonary hypertension is usually unresponsive to therapy and may lead to right ventricular failure and death. Apart from the initial morphological changes, the vascular changes that occur immediately after the neonatal period are due to hypoxia and hyperoxic exposure of the individual cells in addition to injury and inflammatory mediators. As such, we consider pulmonary hypertension to be a part of the disease spectrum in CDH patients and which we propose to name “pulmonary vascular disease”.

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension in infants with CDH is based on several underlying signaling pathways involved in the regulation of the vascular tone and the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension [69]. Nitric oxide (NO) is perhaps the best-known endothelial-derived vasodilator. Inhalation of NO (iNO) interferes with the cGMP pathway and results in vasodilatation by reducing intracellular calcium levels [70]. In 1992, iNO was introduced as a treatment for pulmonary hypertension. It may decrease the pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricle afterload, without a decrease in arterial pressure [71]. Several randomized trials with iNO showed improved oxygenation and a lesser need of ECMO. However, iNO did not reduce mortality in infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension [72]. Also, a large RCT demonstrated no reduction in mortality and need of ECMO in infants with CDH [73]. As a negative effect, rebound pulmonary hypertension may occur if iNO is weaned. Although iNO is used as the golden standard for treating newborns with pulmonary hypertension, still some 30% of newborns with CDH do not respond to iNO treatment [74, 75]. However, although no data are available to show a constant effect in patients with CDH, so far all trials on iNO are severely underpowered for CDH. At present, the use of iNO as drug of choice for the treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension is being questioned. Taking into account the concept of right ventricular workload, more attention is paid to the ductus of Botalli and potentially restriction of closure. In a number of studies, PGE1 is advised as first choice. However, no randomized controlled trails are available to prove its superiority.

Another therapeutic strategy that interferes with the cGMP pathway is Sildenafil, which is a PDE-5 inhibitor. Sildenafil may decrease the pulmonary artery pressure more effectively than does iNO. However, both are equally effective in decreasing the pulmonary vascular resistance [76]. Moreover, Sildenafil may increase the efficacy of iNO and may prevent rebound pulmonary hypertension during weaning of iNO [77]. In infants with CDH, Sildenafil improved cardiovascular function and oxygenation in pulmonary hypertension [78, 79].

Inhibition of PDE-3, which metabolizes cAMP, is another option for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Milrinone, a PDE-3 inhibitor, was found to decrease the pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary resistance in animals. Milrinone improved oxygenation in neonates with severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and poor iNO responsiveness [80]. So far, the use of Milrinone has not yet been described in infants with CDH.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) is an endothelial-derived vasodilator that decreases intracellular calcium levels and thus leads to vasodilatation [81]. Case reports described the successful use of prostaglandin treatment in neonates with pulmonary hypertension [82–84]. De Luca et al. published case reports on the use of epoprostenol and iloprost, respectively, in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in infants with CDH. For both agents, the child’s clinical condition improved for several hours [78, 84].

Inhibitors of endothelin (ET), which is a potent vasoconstrictor produced in the vascular endothelium, may also improve pulmonary hypertension. In randomized controlled trials, Bosentan, a non-selective ET receptor antagonist, was reported to improve exercise capacity and hemodynamics in adults with pulmonary hypertension [85, 86]. A case report described the safe and effective use of bosentan in two neonates with pulmonary hypertension due to transposition of the great arteries [87]. Still, liver toxicity was reported as an important adverse effect of bosentan [86]. Sitaxsentan and ambrisentan are specific ET-A receptor antagonists which may be more effective and less hepatotoxic than bosentan [88, 89]. No randomized controlled trials have been carried out yet to test the effect of ET receptor antagonists in neonates.

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are upregulated in pulmonary hypertension [90, 91]. Imatinib, a PDGF inhibitor, was reported to have a dose-dependent positive effect on right ventricle hypertrophy and reverse pulmonary vascular remodeling in patients with pulmonary hypertension [90, 92]. A recent case report described the use of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor in a newborn with CDH. It gradually decreased the pulmonary artery pressure and improved the child’s clinical condition [93].

Finally, the RhoA and Rho-kinase pathways are involved in maintaining the pulmonary vascular tone and their downstream effectors form a key pathway for the regulation of the vascular tone. In animal models, Fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, showed promising results in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Fasudil improved pulmonary hypertension, right ventricle hypertrophy and also reversed endothelial dysfunction in rats with pulmonary hypertension [94]. In another study, Fasudil generated a vasodilatory effect in rats that were unresponsive to iNO [95].

Research questions

  • To investigate mechanisms of pulmonary angiogenesis, which may explain the postnatal “maladaption” of the pulmonary circulation in newborns with CDH.

  • To investigate the physiology and regulation of the pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells.

  • To identify new strategies and targets for therapy including the above-mentioned rho-kinase inhibitors, PDGF inhibitors, ET receptor antagonists, prostacyclin and phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

  • To determine biomarkers which may be used to determine the severity of “pulmonary vascular disease”.

  • To investigate echocardiographic markers to determine right ventricular function.

Long-term morbidity and multidisciplinary follow-up

Approximately 87% of CDH survivors have longer lasting associated morbidity, such as pulmonary, gastro-intestinal and neurological problems. Moreover, they are at risk of developing surgical problems in later life, such as CDH recurrence or bowel obstructions because of adhesions. Associated cardiac or chromosomal anomalies in children with CDH may involve a wide range of problems, which may need thorough multidisciplinary follow-up.

Pulmonary morbidity

Approximately 30–50% of CDH survivors develop long-term pulmonary sequelae, including chronic lung disease, persistent pulmonary hypertension, asthmatic symptoms, and recurrent respiratory tract infections [12, 50, 51, 96–98]. Pulmonary hypoplasia and lung damage due to mechanical ventilation predisposes newborns with CDH to develop chronic pulmonary symptoms. Patients who received ECMO and/or a patch repair are more likely to develop pulmonary complications [99]. Long-term pulmonary sequelae may be very diverse, ranging from full clinical recovery to impaired lung function, respiratory tract infections, cor pulmonale, and even death. Up to 33% of CDH patients are oxygen-dependent for a longer time, compared to 20% of premature and low-birth weight infants [45, 51, 99].

Forty-three percent of CDH patients are discharged home with diuretics, and 17% with bronchodilators [99]. Furthermore, during the first year of life, approximately 35% required bronchodilator and/or steroid therapy [99]. Half of the CDH survivors show asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing and bronchospasm, at one point during childhood [98]. However, asthma-like symptoms seem to decline over the years. In 22% of adolscent survivors asthmatic symptoms have been reported [98].

CDH survivors are also at risk of developing recurrent pulmonary infections. Pneumonia occurs in 7% of infants during the first year of life [100]. RSV infection, which is the most common cause of respiratory distress in infants, may put CDH survivors at a higher risk. RSV vaccination may therefore be recommended [12]. However, studies indicated no significant differences in respiratory symptoms between CDH survivors and controls [50, 98].

Many studies report obstructive lung function abnormalities in CDH survivors; restrictive and combined obstructive/restrictive abnormalities are reported to a lesser extent [50, 98–103]. Lung function abnormalities occur in 28–52% [99, 100]. Longer duration of ventilation is associated with worse pulmonary function [50]. Furthermore, chest wall deformities, which occur in 46% of the patients, may be responsible for lung function anomalies [50, 98]. CDH survivors showed higher rates of bronchial hyperreactivity after provocation tests than controls [50, 98]. It is hypothesized that this is due to ventilation-induced lung damage rather than to pulmonary hypoplasia [50]. Apart from lung function anomalies, abnormalities on chest X-rays are reported in 33–80% of the patients [51, 99]. These include hyperlucency, hyperinflation, persistent lung hypoplasia, decreased pulmonary vascularity, persistent lung opacities, mediastinal shift, and abnormal diaphragmatic profile [2, 51, 96].

Lung function abnormalities in CDH survivors are relatively mild and usually improve over time, especially after the first 6 months [102]. This may well be due to compensatory growth of the lungs, as V/Q scans show no reduction in lung volume and a normal diffusion capacity [50]. CDH patients usually have a good exercise tolerance and 83% of adult survivors of CDH consider themselves as healthy [100, 104]. Still, there is much to say for thorough pulmonary follow-up and lung function tests in CDH survivors beyond the neonatal period, especially those with severe chronic lung disease. In milder cases, monitoring of pulmonary problems is important to assess treatment strategies. Previous research on lung function abnormalities in CDH survivors was mostly retrospective, and in small samples. These retrospective data also come from the era before gentle ventilation strategies and ECMO were used and are therefore not representative for the present-day population of patients with CDH. Research should therefore be directed toward prospective follow-up of lung function and good monitoring of medication use and pulmonary problems. New techniques allow us to perform lung function measurements at a very early age, from 6 months on. Lung function tests early in life are necessary to start timely treatment that may prevent further damage from chronic lung disease.

Gastro-intestinal morbidity

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common problem in CDH survivors. It may be a source of feeding problems, failure to thrive, esophagitis and respiratory problems if not treated adequately. Possible explanations of GER in CDH survivors are esophageal dysmotility, esophageal ectasia, maldevelopment or weakness of the crura, shortening of the esophagus, disruption of the angle of His, and a higher intra-abdominal pressure as a result of the return of the herniated viscera into the abdomen after surgical repair [105, 106].

The incidence of GER is 20–84% during the first year of life [107]. An incidence of 63% was reported in adult survivors of CDH, co-existing with a Barrett’s esophagus in 54% [108]. Up to 23% of affected infants need such a surgical correction, such as fundoplication [105, 106]. Risk factors for a fundoplication in CDH survivors are a patch repair and an intrathoracal position of the liver [105].

Intestinal obstruction occurs in 4.2–20% of CDH survivors, compared to 2.2% in other infants who had a laparotomy. This increased susceptibility may be due to postoperative transient paralysis of the bowels and intestinal kinking caused by the malrotation [107, 108]. Two-third of patients who had an intestinal obstruction needed surgical correction [108].

The high incidence of GER and intestinal obstruction calls for long-term follow-up of gastro-intestinal problems in CDH survivors. Moreover, growth impairment is often reported in CDH survivors, especially in children who underwent an ECMO-procedure. Adequate treatment of GER and feeding problems may improve growth impairment [103, 104].

Neurological morbidity

Neurodevelopmental problems are often reported in CDH survivors [103]. These may be related to hypoxic brain injury and ECMO treatment. ECMO may be a risk factor for brain injury as it requires anticoagulant treatment and ligation of the carotid artery. Furthermore, there is a risk for hypoxic brain injury before and during ECMO [96]. In general, neurological sequelae occur in 10–30% of the children who underwent an ECMO-procedure [109, 110]. Nineteen percent of CDH survivors treated with ECMO had severe long-term neurodevelopmental problems, including speech problems and seizure disorders [111]. However, other studies reported ECMO was no risk factor for poor long-term neurological outcome [112, 113].

Sensoneurinal hearing loss is also reported in CDH survivors. Ototoxic medication for persistent pulmonary hypertension has been described as a risk factor for hearing loss. A recent study reported a 10% incidence of hearing problems in CDH survivors at the age of 3 years [114].

Motor problems are reported in 60% of CDH survivors during the first year of life and in 73% at the age of 3 years [103, 114]. Duration of ventilation was a predictor of motor problems at the age of 1 year. Language problems were detected in 60% of the children at the age of 3 years [114]. Social and behavioral problems were recorded in approximately 10% of the cases [114]. A study by Bouman et al. reported a mean IQ of 85 in CDH survivors, which is one standard deviation below the norm of 100. Also, only half of these children were at the expected school level [115].

Long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up is important in CDH survivors. Regular neurological, developmental and (neuro)psychological assessment by a specialized pediatrician and a child’s psychologist is recommended. In case of motor, cognitive, speech and behavorial problems, further treatment by a physiotherapist, a speech therapist or a child’s psychologist needs to be considered. Therefore, neurodevelopmental follow-up is preferably in the hands of a multidisciplinary team.

Research questions

  • To determine long-term postnatal pulmonary function and its course by performing lung function tests and radio diagnostic imaging in CDH survivors throughout childhood and into adult life.

  • To investigate environmental, nutritional and genetic risk factors for long-term morbidity in CDH survivors.

  • To study social behavior and neuropsychological development in CDH survivors.

  • To determine motor and cognitive development in CDH survivors.

  • To assess quality of life in CDH survivor and their parents.

Translational approach

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a severe congenital anomaly, which may contribute to significant disease burden for both parents and child. Early recognition of problems and improvement of treatment strategies may increase survival and prevent secondary morbidity. Therefore, excellent pre- and postnatal healthcare, standardized treatment protocols and a well-organized multidisciplinary follow-up are of high importance in this vulnerable group of patients. This calls for extensive collaboration between hospitals, also because of the small number of CDH patients. The CDH Euro-consortium, which is an international collaboration between 16 European high-volume centers with an expertise in the treatment of children with CDH, is an example of such a network. The CDH Euro-Consortium enhances exchange of knowledge, future research and development of state of the art protocols. Moreover, this has given rise to a central tissue bank which facilitates laboratory evaluation of (epi)genetic factors and specific biomarkers for chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension. Also, central development of CDH animal models may be achieved. Knowledge gained from a central tissue bank and animal models may eventually lead to improvements in health care [16].

Conclusion

This review aimed to give an overview of the disease spectrum of CDH. Survival rates have increased because of the many advances in neonatal care. However, much is still unknown about the possible etiology, the reliability of prenatal predictors of survival, ventilation strategies to reduce VILI, mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension, and long-term morbidity. Because CDH is a complex disease, which may have wide-ranging long-term sequelae, multidisciplinary healthcare is essential for both parents and child. Moreover, collaboration between centers, such as the CDH Euro-Consortium, is highly important for improvements in health care and enhancement of further research.