The efficacy of the postnatal nasogastric tube position as a prognostic marker of left-sided isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Purpose: The prenatal diagnosis of the stomach position in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has been a reliable prognostic factor, but few studies have focused on the postnatal position. We therefore evaluated the significance of the nasogastric (NG) tube position just after birth. Methods: The Japanese CDH Study Group database enrolled 1037 CDH neonates over 15 years. In our multicenter retrospective study, 464 cases of left-sided isolated CDH with prenatal diagnoses were divided into two groups: NG tube below the diaphragm (BD; n = 190) or above the diaphragm (AD; n = 274). The primary outcome was the 90-day survival rate, and the secondary outcomes were mechanical ventilation duration, hospitalization duration, and recurrence rate. Results: The BD group had a significantly higher 90-day survival rate (98.4 vs. 89.4%, p < 0.001), shorter mechanical ventilation (11 vs. 19 days, p < 0.001), shorter hospitalization (38 vs. 59 days, p < 0.001), and lower recurrence rate (p = 0.002) than the AD group. A multivariate analysis showed that BD (adjusted odds ratio, 3.68; 95% confidence interval 1.02–13.30) was a favorable prognostic factor for the 90-day survival. Conclusion: The assessment of the NG tube position revealed it to be a reliable prognostic factor of left-sided isolated CDH. Therefore, it should be included as a routine assessment.