Cardiac MRI markers are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in neonates after congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair

Motivation: The triad of pulmonary hypoplasia, pulmonary hypertension, and early cardiac dysfunction has been postulated to be responsible for poor postnatal outcomes in congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair (CDH). Goal(s): This study was aimed to investigate whether MRI markers of cardiac dysfunction are associated with clinical outcomes in neonates after CDH. Approach: In this prospective study neonates after CDH repair underwent 3T cardiac MRI. Biventricular function/volumes, end-diastolic/end-systolic volumes, shunt fraction were assessed. The study cohort was binarized based on median RVEF (cutoff >54%) to compare clinical variables and outcome data between two groups. Results: MRI-derived parameters of RV-dysfunction were associated with short-term clinical outcomes. Impact: Cardiac MRI allows for objective and early assessment of cardiac dysfunction and, hence, might play an important role in risk stratification and clinical decision-making in neonates after CDH repair.