Analysis of risk factors of long-term complications in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A single institution's experience.

OBJECTIVE: To establish better management practices to reduce morbidities in survivors with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). METHODS: Of 60 patients treated for CDH at our institution between 1991 and 2011, 49 patients without severe anomalies were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Since 2004, gentle ventilation (GV) has been the main treatment for CDH. Patients were divided into the following two groups: the non-GV group (n = 29) who were treated before GV treatment was implemented, and the GV group (n = 20). The overall survival rate was 62.1% (18/29) and 95% (19/20) in the non-GV and GV groups, respectively (p = 0.016). Despite the high survival rate, the incidence of long-term complications in survivors was still high (14/19, 73.7%) in the GV group. In the GV group, liver-up (p = 0.106) and the need for patch repair (p = 0.257) tended to be associated with the development of long-term complications, but did not reach statistical significance. The presence of perioperative complications was associated with the development of long-term complications (p = 0.045) in the GV group. CONCLUSION: Patients who developed short-term complications seemed to be at risk of long-term complications. Therefore, to minimize long-term morbidities in CDH survivors, the prevention of short-term complications might be important.