Cardiac assessment in fetuses with right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia: case-control study

To evaluate cardiac anatomy and function in fetuses with right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (RCDH), and to compare these values with those of normal controls.

Fetal echocardiography was performed in 17 consecutive cases with isolated RCDH and 17 gestational age-matched controls. Two-dimensional measurements included ventricular and outflow tract diameters. Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the flow pattern in the ductus venosus and over the pulmonary and aortic valves, right and left ventricular myocardial performance index and the E/A wave ratio over the atrioventricular valves. Stroke volume, cardiac output and shortening fraction were calculated.

Median gestational age at evaluation was 27.4 (interquartile range, 24.4-28.9) weeks. RCDH cases had a significantly smaller right ventricle and pulmonary valve diameter. Furthermore, stroke volume and cardiac output from the right ventricle were lower than in controls. Myocardial contractility, however, appeared normal.

Despite significantly reduced right ventricular dimensions and cardiac output, cardiac contractility was normal in a cohort of fetuses with RCDH.