Echocardiographic Changes in Infants with Severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia After Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO)

Catherine M. Avitabile, Sabrina Flohr, Leny Mathew, Yan Wang, Devon Ash, Juliana S. Gebb, Natalie E. Rintoul, Holly L. Hedrick
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
United States

Pediatric Cardiology
Pediatr Cardiol 2024;
DOI: 10.1007/s00246-024-03735-y

Abstract
Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) induces lung growth and may improve survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) but the effect on post-natal right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular size and cardiac function is unknown. Quantitative measures of heart size and function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion Z-score (TAPSEZ), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), RV global longitudinal and free wall strain (RVGLS, RVFWS), RV/LV ratio, LV eccentricity index (LVEI), and LV M-mode diastolic and systolic Z-scores (LVIDDZ, LVIDSZ) were compared between FETO and control patients on first post-natal echocardiogram, prior to and post CDH repair, and on last available echocardiogram using non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test in a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Linear regression models evaluated change over time, adjusting for clustering and interaction of echocardiogram parameters with time. Thirty-two patients (10 FETO, 22 control) met inclusion criteria. At first echocardiogram, FETO patients demonstrated lower RV/LV ratio and LVEI (p = 0.01 for both) indicating less RV dilation and less ventricular septal displacement, respectively. LV hypoplasia was less severe in FETO patients (p = 0.01 for both LVIDDZ and LVIDSZ) initially. After repair, FETO patients demonstrated better RV systolic function compared to control patients by FAC (p < 0.01), RVGLS (p = 0.02), and RVFWS (p = 0.05). Over time, FETO patients demonstrated greater improvements in RV/LV ratio and LVEI but smaller increases in LV dimensions compared to control patients. Improvements in RV function were similar between the groups. FETO patients demonstrate differences in cardiac size and function compared to control patients.

Category
Class III. Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Lung Hypoplasia
Surgical and Catheter-mediated Interventions for Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Right Heart Dysfunction Associated with Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Diagnostic Testing for Pulmonary Vascular Disease. Non-invasive Testing

Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Fresh or Filed Publication: Fresh (PHresh). Less than 1-2 years since publication

Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes

Scroll to Top