The Value of Pa co ₂ in Relation to Outcome in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Background Postnatal assessment of disease severity is critical for analysis of mortality rates and development of future interventions in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Objective The objective of this study was to stratify the risk of mortality based on arterial Paco ₂. Methods Retrospective analysis of infants (n = 133) with CDH admitted to a regional extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) center in two different periods: period I (1987-1996; n = 46) and period II (2002-2010; n = 87). Results The mortality rate (37%) was similar in both periods (p = 0.98). Paco ₂ < 60 mm Hg in the first arterial blood gas (ABG) was an independent predictor of survival in both periods (p = 0.03). The predicted survival rate was 84% if initial Paco ₂ was < 55 mm Hg. For infants with initial Paco ₂ > 55 mm Hg treated with ECMO (n = 83), the predicted survival rate was 11% if the Paco ₂ was > 88 mm Hg before the initiation of ECMO. Conclusion Paco ₂, a surrogate of lung hypoplasia, may be useful for risk stratification in CDH. Paco ₂ < 60 mm Hg in the first ABG may indicate milder pulmonary hypoplasia. A Paco ₂ > 80 mm Hg in the first ABG and/or before ECMO may indicate severe pulmonary hypoplasia.