Neurodevelopmental outcome in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia survivors during the first three years

Abstract

Objective: To determine neurodevelopmental outcome in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) survivors during the first three years of life.

Methods: Admitted CDH patients were assessed at the age of 12 (n=18) and 36 months (n=15) using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition. Neurodevelopmental results of CDH patients were compared with published norms and with a healthy matched control group.

Results: At 12 months, receptive language was mildly delayed in 6% of patients and 6% of patients demonstrated mildly delay in expressive language and gross motor skills. Eighteen percent of CDH patients had severely delayed scores for gross motor skills. At 36 months, expressive language scores were mildly delayed in 21% of patients. When compared to the control group, CDH patients had similar neurodevelopmental scores at 12 and 36 months of age.

Conclusion: CDH is not necessarily associated with impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes during the first three years of life.

Summary: The aim of this study was to describe neurodevelopmental outcomes in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) survivors. At 12 months, three (18%) patients had severely delayed scores for gross motor skills. At 36 months, expressive language scores were mildly delayed in three (21%) patients. Neurodevelopmental outcomes of CDH patients were no different to healthy matched controls at 12 and 36 months.

Keywords: Bayley scales of infant development; Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia; Neurodevelopmental outcome.