1
Return

The effect of prenatal intervention on postnatal decision-making for infants born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

delete2026-03-01
delete0
PRE
AI
C
C. Chase Binion
M
Murray, Peter D. *
DOI:10.1177/19345798261438015delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Objective: To determine the effect, if any, of prenatal intervention in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) on the likelihood of attempted trial of resuscitation (TOR) or withdrawal of life-sustaining measures (WLSM) in the postnatal neonatal intensive care environment. Study Design: Four hypothetical patients with either left- or right-sided CDH were devised using prognostic survival data from the literature, depending on whether they received fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) or expectant management in the prenatal setting. Healthcare providers from the CDH Study Group (CDHSG) listserv were surveyed to report their likelihood of offering a trial of resuscitation and obliging a parental request for WLSM for each patient. Response data were analyzed using a Wilcoxon rank sum test, and statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.01. Results: 39 complete responses (rate = 19%) were comprised primarily of physicians in pediatric surgery and neonatology, with other healthcare roles and specialties represented. A left-sided CDH patient with prenatal intervention was significantly favored for a TOR when compared to a patient without prenatal intervention (69% vs 11%; p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a lower rate of obliging a parental request for WLSM in the patient with prenatal intervention compared to a patient without (19% vs 64%; p < 0.001). In contrast, there was no observed effect of prenatal intervention in patients with right-sided hernias. In a scenario of simultaneous resource utilization, the patient with a left-sided CDH who underwent prenatal intervention was given priority for a TOR. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first description of the potential impact of prenatal intervention on postnatal decision-making, using the exemplar case of CDH. These findings have profound implications for maternal-fetal surgery providers and patients, raising concerns of equity and justice and providing preliminary empirical evidence for the fetus as a patient in the era of modern prenatal intervention.
Keywords:
congenital diaphragmatic hernia
clinical decision-making
tracheal occlusion
life-sustaining treatment

Journal

J
Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
IF:
0.9
Papers:
63
Citations:
804

Organization

U
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Scholars:
3.8W
Papers: 3.0W
Citations: 46
U
university of virginia
Scholars:
3.7K
Papers: 1.7K
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers