# The diagnostic and predictive value of ultrasonography in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

## TL;DR

This study shows that ultrasonography can help predict outcomes in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

## Contribution

The study identifies four ultrasonographic indicators that together improve mortality prediction in CDH infants.

## Key findings

- Diaphragmatic defect length >4 cm, hepatic herniation, absence of hernial sac, and lung ultrasound abnormalities are significant predictors of mortality.
- Combining these four ultrasonographic parameters yields strong predictive performance with an AUC of 0.860.

## Abstract

The current diagnostic and prognostic assessment of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in neonates remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of neonatal ultrasonography in the diagnosis and prognostic prediction of CDH in infants.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 152 infants diagnosed with CDH and admitted to the Department of Neonatal Surgery at Children's Hospital between 2017 and 2023. The cohort included 86 (56.6%) males and 66 (43.4%) females. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with CDH prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the predictive value of significant ultrasonographic indicators.

Multivariate logistic regression identified four factors as significant predictors of mortality: diaphragmatic defect length >4 cm [odds ratio [OR] = 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–10.58], the presence of hepatic herniation (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.16–5.87), absence of a hernial sac (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 2.00–11.76), and concomitant lung ultrasound abnormalities (OR = 10.86, 95% CI: 1.28–21.85). The combination of these four parameters demonstrated strong predictive performance for mortality, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.860 (95% CI: 0.786–0.935).

Diaphragmatic defect length, hepatic herniation, hernial sac status, and lung ultrasound findings serve as valuable prognostic indicators in infants with CDH. Integrating these four parameters enhances prognostic accuracy and may support clinical decision-making.