Nasreddin Djawad Abolmaali MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Arne Koch, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Knut Goetzelt, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christian Vogelberg, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gabriele Hahn, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michael Laniado MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare lung volumes and pulmonary arterial flow of children operated for diaphragmatic hernia with age-matched healthy subjects.

Twelve children (median age: 12 years, range 6-18 years) who received immediate postnatal surgery for closure of isolated diaphragmatic hernias were examined at a 1.5T MRI. Imaging consisted of real-time volumetric acquisition of the entire lungs during free breathing and flow measurements of both pulmonary arteries. Bilateral lung volumes and flow data was compared with 12 age- and sex-matched healthy children.

Mean proportional expiratory lung volumes were 50% right / 50% left in patients and 56% right / 44% left in probands. Differences between patients and probands were significant (p=0.03). Volume flow analyses in patients: left pulmonary artery (2.1 l/min, 43%), right pulmonary artery (2.8 l/min, 57%); in probands: left pulmonary artery (2.6 l/min, 47%), right pulmonary artery (3.0 l/min, 53%). Differences between patients and probands were not significant (p=0.2).

While lung volumes revealed a side related difference between patients and probands, the lung flow showed no differences.

MRI might be useful for the detection of side related differences in expiratory volumes of patients after surgery of diaphragmatic hernia.

Abolmaali, N, Koch, A, Goetzelt, K, Vogelberg, C, Hahn, G, Laniado, M, Lung Volumes and Pulmonary Arterial Flow in Children Operated for Diaphragmatic Hernia: First Long-term Results.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5006731.html