LAUSR

INTRODUCTION We aimed to determine if the presence of a hernia sac in neonates with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) was associated with better clinical outcomes. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of infants with isolated CDH from 1991 to 2015. Primary outcome measures were oxygen-dependence and mortality at 28 days. Secondary measures were: inhaled nitric oxide use, vasoactive medication use, ventilator support, and recurrence rates. RESULTS Seventy-one patients met the inclusion criteria: 14 patients (19.7%) had a hernia sac, and 57 patients (80.3%) did not. Mortality did not differ between the 2 groups [0 of 14 versus 3 of 57 (5.3%) (p = 1.000)]. Hernia sac patients had similar oxygen-dependence after 28 days [1 of 14 (7.1%) versus 14 of 57 (24.6%) (p = 0.273)]. Hernia sac children required less iNO (0.64 ± 2.41 vs. 6.35 ± 12.2 days, p = 0.002), vasoactive medications (2.79 ± 3.07 vs. 5.36 ± 5.52, p = 0.027), and time on ventilation (7.62 ± 6.12 vs. 15.9 ± 19.2, p = 0.010). Hernia sac children had similar recurrence rates within 2 years [0 of 14 versus 7 of 57 (12.3%) (p = 0.331)]. CONCLUSION The presence of a hernia sac was not associated with lower rates of oxygen dependency or death at 28 days but was associated with decreased inhaled nitric oxide, vasoactive medication, and ventilator use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.