Recurrent diaphragmatic hernia: Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors

Minimally Invasive Approach Versus Traditional Approach for Treating Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare but critical surgical disorder that can be managed using either open or thoracoscopic surgical approaches. However, the optimal approach remains a topic of debate. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thoracoscopic repair compared to open repair in patients with CDH. An extensive literature search was conducted across four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) from inception to May 2024, including all relevant studies comparing the two surgical modalities. Key outcomes assessed were hospital stay duration, operation time, mortality, and recurrence. Categorical outcomes were analyzed using the risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), while continuous outcomes were analyzed using the mean difference (MD) with 95% CI. Data analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan, Version 5.3). A total of 35 studies involving 1,680 individuals with CDH were included in our analysis. The pooled results revealed that thoracoscopic repair was associated with a shorter hospital stay (MD=-6.80, 95% CI [-9.39, -4.21], p< 0.0001) but a longer operation time (MD=23.30, 95% CI [7.22, 39.38], p=0.005) compared to the open approach. Additionally, thoracoscopic repair demonstrated lower mortality rates (RR=0.43, 95% CI [0.24, 0.76], p=0.004) but higher recurrence rates (RR=2.24, 95% CI [1.56, 3.21], p<0.0001) than open repair. Our findings suggest that thoracoscopic repair offers shorter hospital stays and lower mortality rates but involves longer operation times and higher recurrence rates compared to the open approach. These results highlight the need for further large, multicenter, randomized controlled trials to validate our findings and guide clinical decision-making.

Patches in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aims to evaluate current choices in practice and outcomes of biomaterials used in patch repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

BACKGROUND

Multiple biomaterials, both novel and combinations of pre-existing materials are employed in patch repair of large size CDHs.

METHODS

A literature search was performed across Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. Publications that explicitly reported patch repair, material used, and recurrences following CDH repair were selected.

RESULTS

Sixty-three papers were included, presenting data on 4595 patients, of which 1803 (39.2%) were managed using 19 types of patches. Goretex® (GTX) (n=1106) was the most frequently employed patch followed by Dualmesh® (n=267), Surgisis® (n=156), Marlex®/GTX® (n=56), Tutoplast dura® (n=40), Dacron® (n=34), Dacron®/GTX® (n=32), Permacol® (n=24), Teflon® (n=24), Surgisis®/GTX® (n=15), Sauvage® Filamentous Fabric (n=13), Marlex® (n=9), Alloderm® (n=8), Silastic® (n=4), Collagen coated Vicryl® mesh (CCVM) (n=1), Mersilene® (n=1), and MatriStem® (n=1) Biomaterials were further subgrouped as: synthetic nonresorbable (SNOR) (n=1458), natural resorbable (NR) (n=241), combined natural and synthetic nonresorbable (NSNOR) (n=103), and combined natural and synthetic resorbable (NSR) (n=1). The overall recurrence rate for patch repair was 16.6% (n=299). For patch types with n>20, recurrence rate was lowest in GTX/Marlex (3.6%), followed by Teflon (4.2%), Dacron (5.6%), Dualmesh (12.4%), GTX (14.8%), Permacol (16.0%), Tutoplast Dura (17.5%), SIS/GTX (26.7%), SIS (34.6%), and Dacron/GTX (37.5%).When analyzed by biomaterial groups, recurrence was highest in NSR (100%), followed by NR (31.5%), NSNOR (17.5%), and SNOR the least (14.0%).

CONCLUSION

In this cohort, over one-third of CDH were closed using patches. To date, 19 patch types/variations have been employed for CDH closure. GTX is the most popular, employed in over 60% of patients; however, excluding smaller cohorts (n<20), GTX/Marlex is associated with the lowest recurrence rate (3.6%). SNOR was the material type least associated with recurrence, while NSR experienced recurrence in every instance.

Safe thoracoscopic repair of recurrent congenital diaphragmatic hernia after initial open abdominal repair

PURPOSE

The optimal surgical approach for recurrent congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains controversial. We compared the surgical outcomes of a thoracoscopic approach versus an open abdominal approach for recurrent CDH after initial abdominal open repair.

METHOD

The subjects of this comparative study were patients who underwent open abdominal or thoracoscopic surgery for recurrent CDH following an initial open abdominal repair.

RESULTS

Among 166 patients with Bochdalek-type CDH, 15 underwent reoperation for recurrent CDH following an open abdominal repair. Seven patients underwent open abdominal surgery (group O) and eight underwent thoracoscopic surgery (group T). The operative duration was similar for the two groups, with less blood loss (17.2 ml/kg vs. 1 ml/kg, P = 0.001) and fewer intraoperative complications in the T group (n = 6 vs. n = 0 cases, P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the number of postoperative complications (n = 1 vs. n = 1, P = 1.0) or in the number of patients with a second CDH recurrence (n = 2 vs. n = 1, P = 0.569) between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Thoracoscopic surgery is preferable to the open surgical approach for recurrent CDH following an initial abdominal open repair.

Reasons for conversions in thoracoscopic repairs of neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernias: a systematic review

PURPOSE

This systematic review focused on reasons for conversions in neonates undergoing thoracoscopic congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair.

METHODS

Systematic search of Medline/Pubmed and Embase was performed for English, Spanish and Portuguese reports, according to PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

Of the 153 articles identified (2003-2023), 28 met the inclusion criteria and offered 698 neonates for analysis. Mean birth weight and gestational age were 3109 g and 38.3 weeks, respectively, and neonates were operated at a mean age of 6.12 days. There were 278 males (61.50%; 278/452) and 174 females (38.50%; 174/452). The reasons for the 137 conversions (19.63%) were: (a) defect size (n = 22), (b) need for patch (n = 21); (c) difficulty in reducing organs (n = 14), (d) ventilation issues (n = 10), (e) bleeding, organ injury, cardiovascular instability (n = 3 each), (f) bowel ischemia and defect position (n = 2 each), hepatopulmonary fusion (n = 1), and (g) reason was not specified for n = 56 neonates (40.8%). The repair was primary in 322 neonates (63.1%; 322/510) and patch was used in 188 neonates (36.86%; 188/510). There were 80 recurrences (12.16%; 80/658) and 14 deaths (2.48%; 14/565). Mean LOS and follow-up were 20.17 days and 19.28 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal thoracoscopic repair for CDH is associated with conversion in 20% of cases. Based on available data, defect size and patch repairs have been identified as the predominant reasons, followed by technical difficulties to reduce the herniated organs and ventilation related issues. However, data specifically relating to conversion is poorly documented in a high number of reports (40%). Accurate data reporting in future will be important to better estimate and quantify reasons for conversions in neonatal thoracoscopy for CDH.

Recurrence of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Risk Factors, Management, and Future Perspectives

Recurrence is one of the most common surgical complications in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It could remain clinically silent for a long time or present as an acute complication week, months, or even years after the primary surgery. Several risk factors have been identified so far. An extended diaphragmatic defect represents one of the leading independent risk factors, together with indirect signs of large defect such as the liver position related to the diaphragm and the use of the prosthetic patch and with the use of a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approach. However, the exact contribution of each factor and the overall risk of recurrence during the life span still need to be fully understood. This mini-review aims to give an overview of the current knowledge regarding CDH recurrence, focusing on predisposing factors, clinical presentation, management and follow-up of high-risk patients, and future perspectives.

Thoracoscopic surgery for congenital diaphragmatic hernia in neonates: Should it be the first choice?

OBJECTIVE

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening surgical condition in neonates. Surgery can be performed by either open or thoracoscopic techniques. In this study, we compared the clinical efficacy, safety, and effectiveness of thoracoscopic and open CDH repair.

METHODS

A retrospective review of neonates with CDH who underwent operations at our hospital from 2013 to 2021 was performed. The various perioperative parameters were compared between neonates undergoing thoracoscopic and open surgery.

RESULTS

There were 50 neonates in this study (37 in the thoracoscopic group and 13 in the open group). Thoracoscopic surgery was associated with significantly shorter hospital stay (13.32 vs. 18.77 days, p < 0.001); shorter duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation (3.70 vs. 5.98 days, p < 0.001); early feeding (4.34 vs. 7.46 days, p < 0.001); and shorter time to reach optimal feeding (8.21 vs. 13.38 days, p < 0.001). There was one postoperative death in the open group and no death in the thoracoscopic group. The median follow-up time of the two groups was 23.8 months (20.5 months in open group and 25.0 months in thoracoscopic group). Thoracoscopic surgery was associated with lower recurrence rates, but the difference was not statistically significant (2.7% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.456).

CONCLUSION

Thoracoscopy CDH repair, a safe and effective surgical technique for neonates, has better cosmesis, faster postoperative recovery, and a lower recurrence rate than other procedures. It can be considered the first choice for CDH treatment for neonates among experienced surgeons.

Synthesis and characterization of Cu(II)-pyrazole complexes for possible anticancer agents; conformational studies as well as compatible in-silico and in-vitro assays

New pyrazole derivatives were prepared and used to synthesize new bioactive agents from Cu(II) complexes that have OSN donors. Analytical and spectral (IR, UV-Vis, MS, ¹H NMR, ESR & XRD) instruments characterized these complexes as well as their corresponding ligands. The bonding mode has been modified from ligand to ligand and the molar ratio for isolated complexes has also varied (1:1/1:2, M:L). The geometry of isolated complexes was commonly proposed, based on electronic transitions and ESR spectral-parameters. Via computational approaches, these structures were optimized using standard programs (Gaussian 09 & HyperChem 8.1) under the required basis set. Consequently, important physical characteristics have been obtained after finishing the optimization process. Inhibition behavior of all new synthesizes was studied by MOE module as in-silico approach which conducted versus the crystal structure of NUDT5 protein (6gru) of breast cancer cells. The interaction features summarized from docking processes, reveal effective inhibition validity for new Cu(II) complexes versus breast cancer cells. This according to scoring energy values and the stability of docking complexes in true interaction path (bond length ≤3.5 Å) particularly with Cu(II)-L³ and Cu(II)-L⁴ complexes. This reflects the possibility of successful behavior during practical application through in-vitro assay that intended in this study. Finally, the degree of toxicity of such new compounds to the breast cancer cell line was determined by in-vitro screening. To judge perfectly on their toxicity, in-vitro screening must compared to positive control as Doxorubicin (reference drug). IC₅₀ values were calculated and represent Cu(II) complexes as outstanding cytotoxic agents which revealed superiority on the reference drug itself.

Surgeon level variation in outcome of repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia with particular reference to the management of recurrence

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study is to investigate firstly, the rate of recurrence following primary repair of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and secondly, the rate of recurrence following revisional surgical repair. The primary outcome is rate of recurrence. Secondary outcomes are to establish whether recurrence is related to surgeon, surgeon volume, side of defect, the use of a patch, or a thoracopscopic approach METHODS: All repairs performed in an English regional center over 22 years were recorded. Possible explanatory variables were whether the repair was itself of a recurrence, the surgeon's identity, the surgeon's volume of prior repairs, the side of the defect, the use of a patch.

RESULTS

198 repairs were performed; 170 primary repairs and 28 of recurrences. Failure occurred significantly more commonly among recurrences (32%) than primary repairs (11%), p = 0.005. Failure of the primary repair was significantly more common where a patch was used 8/34 (23%) rather than a sutured repair 10/136 (7%), p = 0.006, or where a thoracoscopic technique was used 4/13 (31%) rather than laparotomy 14/157 (9%) p = 0.01. Failure of the primary repair was unrelated to the identity of the surgeon (Χ² = 5, p = 0.9) or the volume of prior repairs (t = 0.3, p = 0.6). However, failure of repair of a recurrence was significantly related to the surgeon's volume of prior repairs (t = 2.3, p = 0.01) and the identity of the surgeon (Χ² = 17, p = 0.014), but not the use of a patch (Χ² = 1.6, p = 0.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Repair of a recurrence of a CDH has a higher probability of failure than the original repair and is related to both the identity of the surgeon and the prior volume of experience. There is a volume outcome relationship for the repair of recurrence, but not the primary repair of CDH. Our study suggests the repair of recurrence of CDH should be restricted to surgeons with proven outcomes for this procedure.

One-year outcomes of congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair: Factors associated with recurrence and complications

PURPOSE

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a congenital anomaly associated with lifelong multisystem morbidity. This study sought to identify factors contributing to hospital readmission after CDH repair.

METHODS

The Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2014 was used to identify patients with CDH who underwent surgical repair. Primary outcomes included all cause readmission at 30-days and 1 year and readmission for hernia recurrence. Patient and hospital factors were compared using chi-squared analysis.

RESULTS

Five hundred eleven patients were identified with neonatal CDH. All repairs were performed at teaching hospitals via laparotomy in 59% (n = 303), thoracotomy in 36% (n = 183), and minimally invasive (MIS) repair in 5% (n = 25). The readmission rate within 30-days was 32% (n = 163), and 97% (n = 495) within 1 year. The most common conditions surrounding readmission were for gastroesophageal reflux (20%), CDH recurrence (17%), and surgery for gastrostomy tube and/or fundoplication (16%). Recurrence was significantly higher after MIS repair (48%) compared to those with open repair via either approach (16%), p < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to evaluate nationwide readmissions in newborns with CDH. Readmission is commonly due to CDH recurrence and reflux-associated complications. The recurrence rate is higher than previously reported and is more common after MIS and repair via thoracotomy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III treatment study.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical morbidity of primary versus patch repaired congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients

Large studies comparing the surgical outcome of primary versus patch repair in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients are rare. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of surgical complications in both types of CDH repair. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed articles. Studies on CDH between 1991 and August 2020 were systematically screened and meta-analyses were performed. Primary outcomes of this review were: haemorrhage, chylothorax, recurrences and small bowel obstruction (SBO). A total of 6436 abstracts were screened, after which 25 publications were included (2910 patients). Patch repaired patients have a 2.8 times higher risk on developing a recurrence (20 studies) and a 2.5 times higher risk on developing a chylothorax (five studies). Moreover, they have a two times higher risk on developing a SBO. No studies could be included that evaluated the incidence of surgical haemorrhage between these patients. Although the quality of the studies was relatively low, patch repaired patients have a higher risk on developing a recurrence, chylothorax and small bowel obstruction. Large prospective studies are required to adjust for severity of disease, to reveal the true causative factors in order to minimize the risk on these surgical complications in both types of patients.

Recurrent congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A single center experience

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) occurs in 1:4000 live births. It's morbidity and mortality rates are significant. Recurrence is one of the recognized complications occurring after a successful initial repair. Poorly known are the rate of recurrence and factors that may influence the re-herniation. Poorly described are its morphology and treatment. Medical records of 95 neonates with CDH who had undergone repair at tertiary pediatric teaching hospital between 2007-2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Prior to surgery, peri-operative and recurrence data were collected. The follow-up was 1 to 12 years after the initial repair. Recurrence occurred in 22/84 (26%) patients. In 5 patients we observed more than one recurrence, total number of 27 (32%) re-herniations; 16/22 (72%) recurrences occurred within first 12 months; 7/27 (26%) recurrences were symptomatic which gives the symptomatic recurrence rate 8.3%; 20/27 (74%) were asymptomatic. There were no significant differences between groups considering LHR, gestational age, birth weight, severity of pre-surgery and post-surgery stabilization period. Significantly higher Apgar scores were in the group without recurrence. Among subjects with recurrent CDH majority had a left-sided defect, no hernia sac, no liver herniation, diaphragm was primarily sutured, abdominal wall primarily closed. Even though none of those factors was significantly related with the recurrence. Recurrence in CDH remains a significant issue for long-term surgical morbidity, especially more apparent in the first year of life. As long as the risk factors of re-herniation remains unclear, the most important seems to be routine follow-up protocol allowing for CDH recurrence detection.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia in neonates: Open versus thoracoscopic repair

BACKGROUND

There are no standard criteria to select patients for thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The objective of this study was to compare open laparotomy versus thoracoscopic repair of CDH in neonates.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 41 patients who had repair of CDH from 2011 to 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach; open laparotomy (n = 30) and thoracoscopic repair (n = 11). Study endpoints were duration of post-operative mechanical ventilation, hospital stay and the return to full enteral feeding.

RESULTS

Patients who had thoracoscopic repair were significantly younger (3 [25^th- 75^th percentiles: 3-3] vs. 4 [3-5] days; P = 0.004). Other pre-operative variables were comparable between both groups. The duration of surgery was significantly longer in the thoracoscopic repair (174 [153-186] vs. 91 (84-99) min; P < 0.001). The use of pre-operative nitrous oxide inhalation was associated with prolonged ventilation (P = 0.004), while the thoracoscopic repair was associated with shorter mechanical ventilation (P = 0.006). Hospital stay is lower in the thoracoscopic approach but did not reach a significant value (P = 0.059). The use of pre-operative nitrous oxide was associated with a prolonged hospital stay (P = 0.002). Younger age (HR: 1.33, P = 0.014) and open approach (HR: 3.56, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with delayed feeding.

CONCLUSIONS

The thoracoscopic approach is safe and effective for repairing the CDH. It is associated with shorter mechanical ventilation and rapid return to enteral feeding. Proper patient selection is essential to achieve good outcomes.

NeoAPACHE II. Relationship Between Radiographic Pulmonary Area and Pulmonary Hypertension, Mortality, and Hernia Recurrence in Newborns With CDH

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a rare disease with high mortality and morbidity due to pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between radiographic lung area and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) on the first day of life, mortality, and hernia recurrence during the first year of life in infants with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). A retrospective data collection was performed on 77 CDH newborns. Echocardiographic sPAP value, deaths, and recurrence cases were recorded. Lung area was calculated by tracing the lung's perimeter, excluding mediastinal structures, and herniated organs, on the preoperative chest X-ray performed within 24 h after birth. Logistic and linear regression analyses were performed. Deceased infants showed lower areas and higher sPAP values. One square centimeter of rising in the total, ipsilateral, and contralateral area was associated with a 22, 43, and 24% reduction in mortality risk. sPAP values showed a decreasing trend after birth, with a maximum of 1.84 mmHg reduction per unitary increment in the ipsilateral area at birth. Recurrence patients showed lower areas, with recurrence risk decreasing by 14 and 29% per unit increment of the total and ipsilateral area. In CDH patients, low lung area at birth reflects impaired lung development and defect size, being associated with increased sPAP values, mortality, and recurrence risk. Clinical Trial Registration: The manuscript is an exploratory secondary analysis of the trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier NCT04396028.

Porcine dermal patches as a risk factor for recurrence after congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair

PURPOSE

Recurrence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a treatment-related morbidity which can be preventable. There is no consensus about the ideal material for diaphragmatic substitution. The aim of our study is to identify if the use of porcine dermis patches increases the risk of CDH recurrence.

METHODS

Retrospective review of medical records of CDH patients treated between 2013 and 2017 in our center was carried out. Demographic, clinical and surgical variables were collected. Regression analysis was performed to identify which factors increase the risk of recurrence.

RESULTS

50 patients entered the study. 94% of the patients had a left CDH, mean observed/expected lung-to-head ratio was 46%. 17 patients underwent a primary closure, the rest a patch closure: 25 Gore-Tex^® and 8 porcine dermis patches were used. Seven patients presented recurrence (14%). Median follow-up time was 3.5 years (1.2-6.2). Univariate analysis revealed that the use of a porcine dermis patch (75%) increased the risk of recurrence compared with Gore-Tex^® patch (4%) and primary closure (0%) p < 0.001 (HR 58.7; IC 95%: 6.9-501.2; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The main risk factor for CDH recurrence is the use of a porcine dermis patch. We do not recommend the use of these patches for CDH repair.

Longitudinal Follow-Up With Radiologic Screening for Recurrence and Secondary Hiatal Hernia in Neonates With Open Repair of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia-A Large Prospective, Observational Cohort Study at One Referral Center

Objective: After neonatal repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) recurrence is the most severe surgical complication and reported in up to 50% after patch implantation. Previous studies are difficult to compare due to differences in surgical techniques and retrospective study design and lack of standardized follow-up or radiologic imaging. The aim was to reliably detect complication rates by radiologic screening during longitudinal follow-up after neonatal open repair of CDH and to determine possible risk factors. Methods: At our referral center with standardized treatment algorithm and follow-up program, consecutive neonates were screened for recurrence by radiologic imaging at defined intervals during a 12-year period. Results: 326 neonates with open CDH repair completed follow-up of a minimum of 2 years. 68 patients (21%) received a primary repair, 251 (77%) a broad cone-shaped patch, and 7 a flat patch (2%). Recurrence occurred in 3 patients (0.7%) until discharge and diaphragmatic complications in 28 (8.6%) thereafter. Overall, 38 recurrences and/or secondary hiatal hernias were diagnosed (9% after primary repair, 12.7% after cone-shaped patch; p = 0.53). Diaphragmatic complications were significantly associated with initial defect size (r = 0.26). In multivariate analysis left-sided CDH, an abdominal wall patch and age below 4 years were identified as independent risk factors. Accordingly, relative risks (RRs) were significantly increased [left-sided CDH: 8.5 (p = 0.03); abdominal wall patch: 3.2 (p < 0.001); age ≤4 years: 6.5 (p < 0.002)]. 97% of patients with diaphragmatic complications showed no or nonspecific symptoms and 45% occurred beyond 1 year of age. Conclusions: The long-term complication rate after CDH repair highly depends on surgical technique: a comparatively low recurrence rate seems to be achievable in large defects by implantation of a broad cone-shaped, non-absorbable patch. Longitudinal follow-up with regular radiologic imaging until adolescence is essential to reliably detecting recurrence to prevent acute incarceration and chronic gastrointestinal morbidity with their impact on prognosis. Based on our findings and literature review, a risk-stratified approach to diaphragmatic complications is proposed.

Hérnia diafragmática Congênita: aspectos clínico-hospitalares em um hospital de referência materno-infantil na região Amazônica

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo é analisar o perfil clínico-hospitalar de neonatos com o diagnóstico de hérnia diafragmática congênita (HDC), no período de 2008 a 2018 em um hospital de referência materno-infantil. Trata-se de um estudo transversal e analítico descritivo, que incluiu principalmente dados de prontuários com os códigos Q79.0, Q79.1, J986, K44 e K44.0 da Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID-10). Os critérios de exclusão de prontuários foram o diagnóstico de outros tipos de hérnia diafragmática, sem o aspecto congênito; a internação em unidades que não fossem UTI Neonatal; e a idade no ato de internação igual ou superior a 29 dias. Analisou-se um total de 25.602 prontuários, dos quais 14 corresponderam a HDC. O acometimento por gênero foi de 71,43% masculino (10 casos) e 28,57% feminino (4), com 21,34% das localizações de HDC tipo Bochdalek à direita (3) e 78,57% à esquerda (11). Todos os neonatos deste estudo passaram por ventilação mecânica invasiva (VMI) 9,21 ± 5,55 dias. A cirurgia foi indicada em 11 casos (78,57%), com vias de acesso por toracotomia em 4 (36,36%) e por laparotomia subcostal em 7 (63,64%), todos com uso de dreno torácico homolateral ao hemitórax. O tempo total de internação foi de 19,42 ± 15,36 dias. Observou-se a evolução de alta melhorada em oito pacientes (57,14%) e o óbito de seis (42,86%), com idade de 6,19 ± 4,79 dias, sem referência de acompanhamento do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor posteriormente. Ocorreram baixas incidências de casos por ano, e o gênero de acometimento, as malformações associadas e o tempo de VMI foram semelhantes a outras populações no mundo.

Disorders of the Diaphragm

Pathologic processes that involve the central nervous system, phrenic nerve, neuromuscular junction, and skeletal muscle can impair diaphragm function. When these processes are of sufficient severity to cause diaphragm dysfunction, respiratory failure may be a consequence. This article reviews basic diaphragm anatomy and physiology and then discusses diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to disorders that result in unilateral or bilateral diaphragm dysfunction. This discussion provides a context in which disorders of the diaphragm and their implications on respiratory function can be better appreciated.

Thoracoscopic Treatment of Late-Presenting Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in Infants and Children

PURPOSE

Given that the application of thoracoscopic surgery to late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in infants and children is controversial, we summarized our experiences with patients at two medical centers and aimed to discuss the safety and feasibility of thoracoscopic repair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of late-presenting CDH cases involving patients who underwent thoracoscopic repair from October 2010 to June 2017 was performed. Data, including patients' demographic characteristics, manipulative details, and postoperative complications, were extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 59 cases were included in this study. Patients ranged in age from 2 months to 8 years (mean: 18 months). Twenty-five patients presented with shortness of breath and dyspnea. Furthermore, 34 cases were found occasionally. Forty-six left-sided hernias and 13 right-sided hernias were found. Operating time ranged from 30 to 100 minutes (mean: 55 minutes), and the amount of blood loss was 3-5 mL (mean: 3.8 mL). The size of the diaphragmatic defect ranged from 2 × 2 cm to 5 × 8 cm. The chest tubes were taken out within 24 hours. The average length of postoperative hospital stay was 5.2 ± 0.4 days (range: 4-6 days). The length of the follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 3 years (mean: 18 months), with no recurrences.

CONCLUSION

Thoracoscopic repair of late-presenting CDH is a safe and efficacious technique. It can facilitate the procedure and decrease the recurrence rate by shifting the focus to operative details. The prognosis is excellent once the correct operative details are achieved.

Synthesis of Novel VO(II)-Perimidine Complexes: Spectral, Computational, and Antitumor Studies

A series of perimidine derivatives (L^1-5) were prepared and characterized by IR, ¹H·NMR, mass spectroscopy, UV-Vis, XRD, thermal, and SEM analysis. Five VO(II) complexes were synthesized and investigated by most previous tools besides the theoretical usage. A neutral tetradentate mode of bonding is the general approach for all binding ligands towards bi-vanadyl atoms. A square-pyramidal is the configuration proposed for all complexes. XRD analysis introduces the nanocrystalline nature of the ligand while the amorphous appearance of its metal ion complexes. The rocky shape is the observable surface morphology from SEM images. Thermal analysis verifies the presence of water of crystallization with all coordination spheres. The optimization process was accomplished using the Gaussian 09 software by different methods. The most stable configurations were extracted and displayed. Essential parameters were computed based on frontier energy gaps with all compounds. QSAR parameters were also obtained to give another side of view about the biological approach with the priority of the L³ ligand. Applying AutoDockTools 4.2 program over all perimidine derivatives introduces efficiency against 4c3p protein of breast cancer. Antitumor activity was screened for all compounds by a comparative view over breast, colon, and liver carcinoma cell lines. IC₅₀ values represent promising efficiency of the L⁴-VO(II) complex against breast, colon, and liver carcinoma cell lines. The binding efficiency of ligands towards CT-DNA was tested. Binding constant (K _b) values are in agreement with the electron-drawing character of the p-substituent which offers high K _b values. Also, variable Hammett's relations were drawn.

Surgical perspectives regarding application of biomaterials for the management of large congenital diaphragmatic hernia defects

This review focuses on the surgical viewpoints on patch repairs in neonates with large congenital diaphragmatic hernia defects. The main focus  is on the various biomaterials that have been employed to date with regard to their source of origins, degradation properties as well as tissue integration characteristics. Further focus  is on the present knowledge on patch integration when biomaterials are placed in the diaphragmatic defect. The review will also look at the present evidence on the biomechanical characteristics of the most commonly used biomaterials and compares these materials to diaphragmatic tissue to offer more  insight on the present practice of patch repairs in large defects. Since tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has offered another dimension to diaphragmatic replacement, a detailed overview of this technology will be undertaken with regard to cell sourcing, scaffolds, in vitro versus in vivo implants as well as quality of tissue produced, to explore the limitations and the feasibility facing the scientific community in its clinical implementation of skeletal muscle-engineered tissue beyond laboratory research for diaphragmatic replacement.

Outcomes for thoracoscopic versus open repair of small to moderate congenital diaphragmatic hernias

INTRODUCTION

Indications for thoracoscopic versus open approaches to repair congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are unclear as the variability in defect size, disease severity and patient characteristics pose a challenge. Few studies use a patient and disease-matched comparison of techniques. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of open versus thoracoscopic repairs of small to moderate sized hernia defects in a low risk population.

METHODS

All neonates receiving CDH repair of small (type A) and moderate (type B) size defects at an academic children's hospital between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Patients <36weeks gestation, birth weight <1500g, or requiring extracorporeal life support were excluded. Demographics, including CDH severity index, and hernia characteristics were recorded. The primary outcome parameter was recurrence. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay, length of mechanical ventilation, time to goal feeds, and mortality.

RESULTS

The 51 patients receiving thoracoscopic (35) and open (16) repairs were similar in patient and hernia characteristics, with median 2-year follow-up for both groups. Patients with thoracoscopic repair had shorter hospital stay (16 vs. 23days, p=0.03), days on ventilator (5 vs. 12, p=0.02), days to start of enteral feeds (5 vs. 10, p<0.001), and days to goal feeds (11 vs. 20, p=0.006). Higher recurrence rates in the thoracoscopic groups (17.1% vs. 6.3%) were not statistically significant (p=0.28). Median time to recurrence was 88days for the open repair and 183days (IQR 165-218) for the thoracoscopic group. There were no mortalities in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

In low risk patients born with small to moderate size defects, a thoracoscopic approach was associated with decreased hospital length of stay, mechanical ventilation days, and time to feeding; however, there was a trend towards higher recurrence rates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Long-term morbidity of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A plea for standardization

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survivors present long-term morbidities in several systems, including the neurodevelopmental, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal ones, and CDH long-term sequelae are increasingly being recognized. Due to high co-morbidity, health related quality of life in a significant proportion of CDH patients might be compromised. As a consequence of consciousness on the long-term sequelae of CDH survivors, and their consequences for life, several follow-up programs were brought to life worldwide. In this review, we will summarize the long-term sequelae of CDH survivors, the impact of new treatments, and analyze the consistency of follow-up programs.

Factors associated with early recurrence after congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to identify patient and treatment characteristics associated with early (in hospital) hernia recurrence after congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair.

METHODS

Data from the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Study Group registry were queried from 2007 to 2015. Recurrence of the diaphragmatic hernia after initial repair and prior to death or discharge was determined at the time of reoperation. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches included laparoscopy or thoracoscopy, and open approaches consisted of laparotomy or thoracotomy. Multivariate regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Of 3984 patients, 3332 (84%) underwent CDH repair. 76 (2.3%) patients had an early recurrence. The rate of recurrence was less variable over time for patients undergoing laparotomy vs thoracoscopy (range: 1.1-3.7% vs 1.7-8.9% annually). Timing of repair, whether performed after, during, or before ECMO did not significantly alter recurrence rates (0% vs 4.2% vs 3.0%, p=0.116). Larger defect size (C: OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.2-15.4; D: OR 7.1, 95% CI 1.7-29.1) and an MIS approach (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.7-6.0) were the only independent predictors of recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Larger defect size and an MIS approach were associated with higher rates of early recurrence, while ECMO use and timing of repair with ECMO were not.

TYPE OF STUDY

Treatment study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Postnatal MRI for CDH: A pictorial review of late-presenting and recurrent diaphragmatic defects

Late-presenting or recurrent diaphragmatic defects can pose a diagnostic challenge due to varying clinical presentations. Current diagnostic approaches include plain film radiograph for initial assessment, with other imaging modalities such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, CT and MRI mainly utilized for troubleshooting. As a radiation-free modality, MRI can provide a more definitive diagnosis in particular cases due to its ability to visualize discontinuity of the diaphragm, distinguishing it from eventration. MRI can also accurately characterize hernia contents, defect location and size. We present our MRI technique and review cases of different hernia types with relevant discussion of the imaging findings and correlation with intraoperative findings. MRI can be a useful diagnostic tool in the assessment of late presenting or recurrent diaphragmatic hernias.

A Multi-Institutional Review of Thoracoscopic Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair

INTRODUCTION

Thoracoscopic repair of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in the neonate is controversial due to reports of increased hernia recurrence. A multicenter review on thoracoscopic CDH repair was conducted to evaluate outcomes and to identify factors that are associated with recurrence.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective review was conducted from 2009 to 2015 in neonates who were treated for CDH with thoracoscopic repair. Demographics, preoperative, intraoperative, including repair techniques, and postoperative variables were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. Comparative analysis was performed between those patients who were repaired entirely thoracoscopically with hernia recurrence and those without.

RESULTS

One hundred nine infants, of whom 57% were male with an average gestational age at time of surgery of 39.6 ± 4.6 weeks and a weight of 3.4 ± 1.1 kg, were included. The median age at repair was 5 days (range: 3-9), 61% patients required vasopressor support, and 1.8% patients required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation before repair. Forty-five percent were repaired on high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). Repair was completed thoracoscopically in 83 patients (76%), 68 (82%) were repaired primarily, 15 (18%) were repaired with a patch, and 50 (60%) had extracorporeal/rib fixation sutures. Recurrence occurred in 7 (8.4%) of those completed thoracoscopically. Factors found to be significant for recurrence included: vasopressor therapy (P = .02), repair on HFOV (P = .04), and the presence of the spleen in the chest (P = .04). There was no significant difference identified between technical variations in repair.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that thoracoscopic repair of CDH is feasible in carefully selected patients. However, there is currently no evidence to support a standardized surgical approach to thoracoscopic repair.