Prediction of outcome by computer-assisted analysis of lung area on the chest radiograph of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Background/Purpose: Pulmonary hypoplasia is a major ca use of mortality and morbidity in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Pulmonary hypoplasia is characterized by low volume lungs, and affected infants are likely to have a low lung area on their chest radiograph, The authors assessed whether, in CDH infants, computer-assisted analysis of the chest radiograph lung area gave an accurate indication of lung volume, and if a low lung area was a better predictor of poor outcome (death or oxygen dependency at 28 days) than other test results. Methods: Comparisons were made of the radiographic lung area derived by computer-assisted analysis and lung volume, assessed by measurement of functional residual capacity (FRC) on day 1 before surgical intervention and on the first postoperative day. Compliance was measured, and the maximum and modified ventilation indices and maximum PaCO2 also was noted. Twenty-five CDH infants with a median gestational age of 38 weeks were studied; 18 had FRC measurements preoperatively. Results: Both preoperatively and postoperatively, the lung areas and FRCs correlated significantly (r = 0.51, P <.05; r = 0.76, P <.02, respectively). Eleven infants had a poor outcome (5 infants died without an operation); that group preoperatively differed significantly from those with a good outcome with respect to having a lower compliance (P <.02) and higher maximum ventilation index (P <.01) and maxi mum modified ventilation index (P <.05). Only postoperatively did infants with a poor outcome versus good outcome have a significantly lower lung area (P <.05); they also had a lower increase in lung area preoperatively to postoperatively (P <.01). Receiver operator characteristic curves were constructed; comparison of the areas under the curves showed that preoperatively, a low compliance and high ventilation index were the best predictors of poor outcome. Postoperatively, a low lung area performed as well as the ventilation indices. Conclusion: Computer-assisted analysis of the lung area on the chest radiograph is useful in predicting outcome in CDH infants postoperatively but not preoperatively. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.