Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Transuterine Fetal Tracheal Occlusion Model in Mice
Published on: February 5, 2021
Comparative outcomes of right versus left congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A multicenter analysis
Alexey Abramov1, Weijia Fan2, Rebecca Hernan3
1Department of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Background:
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs in 1 out of 2500-3000 live births. Right-sided CDHs (R-CDHs) comprise 25% of all CDH cases, and data are conflicting on outcomes of these patients. The aim of our study was to compare outcomes in patients with right versus left CDH (L-CDH).
Methods:
We analyzed a multicenter prospectively enrolled database to compare baseline characteristics and outcomes of neonates enrolled from January 2005 to January 2019 with R-CDH vs. L-CDH.
Results:
A total of 588, 495 L-CDH, and 93 R-CDH patients with CDH were analyzed. L-CDHs were more frequently diagnosed prenatally (p=0.011). Lung-to-head ratio was similar in both cohorts. R-CDHs had a lower frequency of primary repair (p=0.022) and a higher frequency of need for oxygen at discharge (p=0.013). However, in a multivariate analysis, need for oxygen at discharge was no longer significantly different. There were no differences in long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed at two year follow up. There was no difference in mortality, need for ECMO, pulmonary hypertension, or hernia recurrence.
Conclusion:
In this large series comparing R to L-CDH patients, we found no significant difference in mortality, use of ECMO, or pulmonary complications. Our study supports prior studies that R-CDHs are relatively larger and more often require a patch or muscle flap for repair.
Type Of Study:
Prognosis study LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.
