Study protocol: a core outcome set for perinatal interventions for congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Postnatal management of preterm infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

INTRODUCTION

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in the preterm population is increasingly common in the current era of fetal endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) therapy. There remains a lack of clinical guidance for clinicians and surgeons regarding optimal management strategies for such infants. We aimed to describe our experience in managing preterm CDH in a single quaternary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS

This was a retrospective single-center observational case series of preterm infants born between 2017 and 2024 at less than 37 weeks of gestation and diagnosed with CDH (pre- or post-natally).

RESULTS

Thirty-two infants with a median (range) gestational age of 33.9 (27.0-36.9) weeks and a birth weight of 1975 (1070-3290) grams. Twenty-two infants (68.8%) were diagnosed with CDH prenatally and 43.8% underwent antenatal FETO. The median time of surgical repair was at 10 (2-47) days of life. The duration of invasive mechanical ventilation was 11 (1-115) days. Nineteen infants (59.4%) survived to discharge with a median postmenstrual age at time of discharge of 40.6 (36.0-51.0) weeks. Two infants developed a grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage. Five infants required home oxygen at discharge.

CONCLUSION

Preterm CDH confers high morbidity and mortality. Robust clinical evidence, multicenter studies and standardized guidelines are needed to improve outcomes in this challenging patient population.

Developing a Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension Core Outcome Set (NeoPH COS)-A Study Protocol

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in newborn babies is a relatively rare, heterogeneous condition that has high associated mortality in the neonatal period and beyond. There are limited evidence-based strategies to treat or prevent this condition. Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the number of studies assessing new therapies and treatment strategies in babies with PH. However, comparison of different treatments between studies is limited by inconsistency in outcome reporting. To address this issue, we aim to develop a core outcome set (COS) for neonates and infants less than 3 months of age, corrected for prematurity, diagnosed with PH, through international consensus with key stakeholders including parents and/or guardians, healthcare professionals and researchers. The development of the COS will be divided into two stages: (1) identification of potential outcomes through a mixed methods systematic literature review and qualitative interviews with parents and/or guardians of babies with pulmonary hypertension; (2) determining core outcomes through an online Delphi survey and consensus meeting. An advisory group with global membership including parents and/or guardians, healthcare professionals, and researchers recruited internationally was formed to guide the COS. The methodology utilized to develop a neonatal PH COS aims to ensure applicability and adoption in international settings and relevance across disciplines. The COS will help to improve trial design and homogeneity of outcomes reported in neonatal trials of PH. This will translate into higher-quality evidence for therapeutic strategies for PH in neonates.

Self-reported respiratory and gastrointestinal outcomes in children with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A prospective multicentre study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate medium-term self-reported respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI) outcomes in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

DESIGN

Self-reported respiratory and GI outcomes correlated with prenatal severity indicators.

SETTING

Prospective study at three fetal medicine units.

POPULATION

Families of children prenatally diagnosed with isolated, left-sided CDH surviving for >1 year.

METHODS

Families received validated questionnaires for GI outcomes (Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire Revised, I-GERQ-R, for infants aged <2 years, or Paediatric Gastro-oesophageal Symptom and Quality of Life Questionnaire, PGSQ, for children aged aged 2-8 years or >9 years) and respiratory outcomes (preschool respiratory outcome questionnaire, for children aged ≤5 years, or the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood asthma questionnaire, for children aged 6-8 years or ≥9 years). Prenatal data collected from the medical records included lung size (percentage observed/expected lung-to-head ratio, O/E LHR %), liver position, fetal endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) gestational age (GA) at delivery, and perinatal data included birthweight, location, patch repair and respiratory support.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The GI and respiratory scores were correlated with O/E LHR using linear and logistic regression models. Univariate analysis was used to evaluate associations with perinatal variables.

RESULTS

We obtained 142 responses from 342 families (representing a response rate of 45%). The baseline characteristics of participants and non-participants were comparable. No correlations between perinatal variables and respiratory or GI scores were identified. Children aged ≤5 years with lower O/E LHR values reported higher respiratory scores (P = 0.0175); this finding was not reported in older children. Overall, the children who underwent FETO (n = 51) had GI (P = 0.290) and respiratory (P = 0.052) scores that were comparable with those of children who were expectantly managed.

CONCLUSIONS

Families and children with prenatally diagnosed CDH reported fewer respiratory symptoms with increasing age. There was no correlation between O/E LHR or the use of FETO and self-reported outcomes.

The promise and pitfalls of care standardization in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

The aim of standardizing care is to enhance patient outcomes and optimize healthcare delivery by minimizing variations in care and ensuring the efficient allocation of healthcare resources. Despite these potential benefits to patients, healthcare providers and the healthcare system, standardization may also disadvantage these groups. With a specific focus on congenital diaphragmatic hernia, this article will review the promise and pitfalls of standardization, as well as a potential path forward that uses standardization to improve outcomes in this rare and complex disease process.

Development of a core outcome set for cardiac rehabilitation in patients with myocardial infarction: a study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Heterogeneous outcome reporting is common in clinical trials focused on cardiac rehabilitation for myocardial infarction (MI); this practice often results in the exclusion of data from clinical trials in systematic reviews. Developing a core outcome set (COS) may solve this problem.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will first identify a preliminary list of outcomes through a systematic review. Next, we will conduct semistructured interviews with patients to explore additional potential outcomes deemed important by patients. Then, we will engage various stakeholders such as clinicians, researchers and methodologists in two Delphi survey tends to refine and prioritise the identified outcomes. Subsequently, we will gather insights directly from patients with MI by administering plain language patient surveys; patients will be involved in questionnaire development. Finally, we will hold two face-to-face consensus meetings for patients and other stakeholders to develop the final COS for cardiac rehabilitation in MI.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Ethics Committee of Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine approved this study (2022DZMEC-349). The final COS will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated in conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

We registered this study in the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials Initiative (COMET) platform.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

1725 (http://www.comet-initiative.org/studies/details/1725).

Development Methodology, Availability, and Implementation of Core Outcome Sets in Pediatric Surgery

Core outcome sets (COSs) provide a mechanism to guide researchers and clinicians when deciding which outcomes to report in research related to a specific clinical condition or intervention. The intention behind creating a COS for a specific condition is to improve the reporting of important and meaningful outcomes, thus enhancing the relevance of research. Additionally, a COS helps facilitate comparison of outcomes between different clinical studies and reduces research waste. In this paper, we discuss the availability of COSs in the field of pediatric general surgery. We provide an overview of the methodologies used to develop a COS, including common pitfalls, and finally, we discuss COS uptake and implementation. An understanding of all these aspects is important for researchers considering developing a new COS and for those reading research where a COS has been developed or used within a study. Failure to adequately appreciate the nuances of COS development, in particular, risks fundamental flaws that may jeopardize COS validity and subsequently hinder COS uptake and implementation.

Core outcome set for perinatal interventions for congenital diaphragmatic hernia

OBJECTIVE

To develop a core set of prenatal and neonatal outcomes for clinical studies evaluating perinatal interventions for congenital diaphragmatic hernia, using a validated consensus-building method.

METHODS

An international steering group comprising 13 leading maternal-fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, pediatric surgeons, patient representatives, researchers and methodologists guided the development of this core outcome set. Potential outcomes were collected through a systematic review of the literature and entered into a two-round online Delphi survey. A call was made for stakeholders with experience of congenital diaphragmatic hernia to review the list and score outcomes based on their perceived relevance. Outcomes that fulfilled the consensus criteria defined a priori were discussed subsequently in online breakout meetings. Results were reviewed in a consensus meeting, during which the core outcome set was defined. Finally, the definitions, measurement methods and aspirational outcomes were defined in online and in-person definition meetings by a selection of 45 stakeholders.

RESULTS

Overall, 221 stakeholders participated in the Delphi survey and 198 completed both rounds. Fifty outcomes met the consensus criteria and were discussed and rescored by 78 stakeholders in the breakout meetings. During the consensus meeting, 93 stakeholders agreed eventually on eight outcomes, which constituted the core outcome set. Maternal and obstetric outcomes included maternal morbidity related to the intervention and gestational age at delivery. Fetal outcomes included intrauterine demise, interval between intervention and delivery and change in lung size in utero around the time of the intervention. Neonatal outcomes included neonatal mortality, pulmonary hypertension and use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Definitions and measurement methods were formulated by 45 stakeholders, who also added three aspirational outcomes: duration of invasive ventilation, duration of oxygen supplementation and use of pulmonary vasodilators at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed with relevant stakeholders a core outcome set for studies evaluating perinatal interventions in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Its implementation should facilitate the comparison and combination of trial results, enabling future research to better guide clinical practice. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Prenatal management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Recently, two randomized controlled, prospective trials, the Tracheal Occlusion to Accelerate Lung Growth (TOTAL) trials, reported the outcomes on fetal endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) for isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). FETO significantly improved outcomes for severe hypoplasia. The effect in moderate cases, where the balloon was inserted later in pregnancy, did not reach significance. In a pooled analysis investigating the effect of the heterogeneity of the treatment effect by the time point of occlusion and severity, the difference may be explained by a difference in the duration of occlusion. Nevertheless, FETO carries a significant risk of preterm birth. The primary objective of this review is to provide an overview of the rationale for fetal intervention in CDH and the results of the randomized trials. The secondary objective is to discuss the technical aspects of FETO. Finally, recent developments of potential alternative fetal approaches will be highlighted.

Clinical trials and outcome reporting in congenital diaphragmatic hernia overlook long-term health and functional outcomes-A plea for core outcomes

Aim

To review the selection, measurement and reporting of outcomes in studies of interventions in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH).

Methods

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 2000–2020 for randomised trials and observational studies. Outcomes reported were classified into seven key domains modelled on the patient journey.

Results

Our search yielded 118 papers; 27 were eligible. The most frequent domains measured were ‘short‐term markers of disease activity’ (17/27), whereas long‐term outcomes (3/27) and outcomes relating to functional health status (8/27) were reported infrequently. There was heterogeneity in the methods and timing of outcome reporting. Primary outcomes were varied and not always clearly stated.

Conclusion

Long‐term health and functional outcomes involving interventional studies in CDH are infrequently reported, which hinders the process of shared decision‐making and evidence‐based healthcare. A CDH core outcome set is needed to standardise outcome reporting that is relevant to both families and healthcare teams.

Challenges and Pitfalls: Performing Clinical Trials in Patients With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare developmental defect of the lungs and diaphragm, with substantial morbidity and mortality. Although internationally established treatment guidelines have been developed, most recommendations are still expert opinions. Trials in patients with CDH, more in particular randomized controlled trials, are rare. Only three multicenter trials in patients with CDH have been completed, which focused on fetoscopic tracheal occlusion and ventilation mode. Another four are currently recruiting, two with a focus on perinatal transition and two on the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Herein, we discuss major challenges and pitfalls when performing a clinical trial in infants with CDH. It is essential to select the correct intervention and dose, select the appropriate population of CDH patients, and also define a relevant endpoint that allows a realistic duration and sample size. New statistical approaches might increase the feasibility of randomized controlled trials in patients with CDH. One should also timely perform the trial when there is still equipoise. But above all, awareness of policymakers for the relevance of investigator-initiated trials is essential for future clinical research in this rare disease.

Antenatal Management of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: what's next ?

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) can be diagnosed in the prenatal period and its severity can be measured by fetal imaging. There is now level I evidence that, in selected cases, Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO) increases survival to discharge from the neonatal unit as well as the risk for prematurity. Both effects are dependent on the time point of tracheal occlusion. FETO may also lead to iatrogenic death when done in unexperienced centres. The implementation of the findings from our clinical studies, may also vary based on local conditions. These may be different in terms of available skill set, access to fetal therapy, as well as outcome based on local neonatal management. We encourage prior benchmarking of local outcomes with optimal postnatal management, based on large enough numbers and using identical criteria as in the recent trials. We propose to work further on prenatal prediction methods, and the improvement of fetal intervention. In this manuscript, we describe a research agenda from a fetal medicine perspective. This research should be in parallel with innovation in neonatal and pediatric (surgical) management of this condition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Core Outcome Sets (COS) related to pregnancy and childbirth: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Systematic reviews often conclude low confidence in the results due to heterogeneity in the reported outcomes. A Core Outcome Set (COS) is an agreed standardised collection of outcomes for a specific area of health. The outcomes included in a COS are to be measured and summarized in clinical trials as well as systematic reviews to counteract this heterogeneity.

AIM

The aim is to identify, compile and assess final and ongoing studies that are prioritizing outcomes in the area of pregnancy and childbirth.

METHODS

All studies which prioritized outcomes related to pregnancy and childbirth using consensus method, including Delphi surveys or consensus meetings were included. Searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Academic Search Elite, CINAHL, SocINDEX and COMET databases up to June 2021. For all studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria, information regarding outcomes as well as population, method, and setting was extracted. In addition, reporting in the finalized studies was assessed using a modified version of the Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Reporting.

RESULTS

In total, 27 finalized studies and 42 ongoing studies were assessed as relevant and were included. In the finalized studies, the number of outcomes included in the COS ranged from 6 to 51 with a median of 13 outcomes. The majority of the identified COS, both finalized as well as ongoing, were relating to physical complications during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

There is a growing number of Core Outcome Set studies related to pregnancy and childbirth. Although several of the finalized studies follow the proposed reporting, there are still some items that are not always clearly reported. Additionally, several of the identified COS contained a large number (n > 20) outcomes, something that possibly could hinder implementation. Therefore, there is a need to consider the number of outcomes which may be included in a COS to render it optimal for future research.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a single-centre experience at Kepler University Hospital Linz

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is found in about 1 of 3000 live births and is often complicated by pulmonary hypoplasia and alteration of the pulmonary arterial wall with resulting pulmonary hypertension. Since 2005, with the fusion of the children’s hospital and the maternity clinic of the Kepler University Hospital Linz, affected neonates have been treated according to a standard protocol at our perinatal centre. Some prenatally measured parameters have been used to predict mortality, e.g., observed-to-expected lung-to-head ratio or lung volume measurements by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. We performed a retrospective chart review of 67 new-borns with CDH treated at our institution to detect any predictors of hospital mortality from parameters routinely collected within the first 24 h of life. The term “liver up” was identified as a predictor of hospital mortality; OR 9.2 (95% CI 1.9–51.1, p = 0.002, sensitivity 79%, specificity 71%). In addition, the need for application of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation during the first 24 h was associated with mortality; OR 44.4 (95% CI 6.3–412.1, p = 0.001, sensitivity 85.7%, specificity 88%).