Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Three-Dimensional Phase Resolved Functional Lung Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: June 21, 2024
Longitudinal Analysis of Ventilation Perfusion Mismatch in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Survivors
Duy T Dao1, Ali Kamran2, Jay M Wilson3
1Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Objective:
To determine the natural history of pulmonary function for survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).
Study Design:
This was a retrospective cohort study of survivors of CDH born during 1991-2016 and followed at our institution. A generalized linear model was fitted to assess the longitudinal trends of ventilation (V), perfusion (Q), and V/Q mismatch. The association between V/Q ratio and body mass index percentile as well as functional status was also assessed with a generalized linear model.
Results:
During the study period, 212 patients had at least one V/Q study. The average ipsilateral V/Q of the cohort increased over time (P < .01), an effect driven by progressive reduction in relative perfusion (P = .012). A higher V/Q ratio was correlated with lower body mass index percentile (P < .001) and higher probability of poor functional status (New York Heart Association class III or IV) (P = .045).
Conclusions:
In this cohort of survivors of CDH with more severe disease characteristics, V/Q mismatch worsens over time, primarily because of progressive perfusion deficit of the ipsilateral side. V/Q scans may be useful in identifying patients with CDH who are at risk for poor growth and functional status.
