Evaluation of Lung Injury in Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Background/PurposeThe presence of lung injury and the factors that contribute to it in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) have not been objectively measured during their clinical course. In adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome, higher serum levels of surfactant protein D (SP-D) are linked to lung injury and worse outcomes. We hypothesized that serum SP-D levels would be elevated in CDH infants and that the levels would correlate to the amount of lung injury present.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, serum SP-D levels were analyzed in 37 CDH infants and 5 control infants using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.ResultsInfants with more severe CDH had a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001) in serum SP-D over their first month of life. SP-D levels in CDH infants were similar to control infants while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) but were 2.5-fold higher (p = 0.03) than controls following ECMO termination. SP-D levels increased 1.6-fold following surgical repair of the diaphragm and were significantly higher in the second week following surgery when compared to pre-operative levels (p < 0.03).ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that CDH infants experience lung injury during the first week of life, around the time of surgery, and at the time of ECMO termination.Level II prognosis study.