Role of thoracoscopy in traumatic diaphragmatic hernia

Abstract

Thoraco-abdominal trauma can in rare cases involve diaphragmatic rupture and subsequent herniation of intra-abdominal contents. We report a case of this complication in a 5-year-old boy who was injured in a car crash, and who manifested respiratory distress and hemodynamic instability after 48 h of being monitored in the pediatric intensive care unit. Multiple radiologic investigations were inconclusive and the definite diagnosis was established only on thoracoscopic exploration.

Blunt Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia in Children: A Systematic Review

“…Three patients underwent thoracoscopy (3 of 18, 16.7%), 14 , 42 and the remaining patient had a thoracoscopic approach which was converted to a thoracotomy (1 of 18, 5.6%). 43 Method of diaphragm repair was reported in 79 of 138 patients (57.2%), with the majority repaired primarily with suture (76 of 79, 96.2%). The remaining three patients were repaired primarily with intercostal muscle flaps (3 of 79, 3.8%).…”