Delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia: A case-series report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias (TDHs) are sometimes difficult to identify at an early stage and can consequently result in diagnostic delays with life-threatening outcomes. It is the aim of this case study to highlight the difficulties encountered with the earlier detection of traumatic diaphragmatic hernias. METHODS: Clinical data of patients who received treatment for delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernias in registers of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from 1998 to 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Six patients were included in this study. Left hemidiaphragm was affected in all of them. Most of the patients had a history of traffic accident and 1 a stab-penetrating injury. The interval from injury to developing symptoms ranged from 2 to 11 years (median 5 years). The hernial contents included the stomach, omentum, small intestine, and colon. Diaphragmatic injury was missed in all of them during the initial managements. All patients received operations once the diagnosis of delayed TDH was confirmed, and no postoperative mortality was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed TDHs are not common, but can lead to serious consequences once occurred. Early detection of diaphragmatic injuries is crucial. Surgeons should maintain a high suspicion for injuries of the diaphragm in cases with abdominal or lower chest traumas, especially in the initial surgical explorations. We emphasize the need for radiographical follow-up to detect diaphragmatic injuries at an earlier stage.

[Features of diagnostics and surgical strategy of diaphragmatic rupture in patients with closed chest and abdominal polytrauma].

The article presents results of diagnostics and surgical treatment of diaphragmatic rupture in 32 victims with an estimation of diagnostic value of different instrumental methods of investigation and the efficacy of surgical approach. The correct interpretation of typical clinical and instrumental signs in consideration with trauma mechanogenesis allowed diagnostics of diaphragmatic rupture before the operation in 17 (53.1%) cases. It was observed that an undiagnosed rupture of the left hemidiaphragm caused a formation of posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia in 2 (6.2%) patients. The laparotomy was applied in 28 patients as a surgical approach and thoracotomy--in 2patients. The laparotomy and after that thoracotomy were performed on one patient. The thoracotomy and laparotomy were carried out on the second patient in turn. The authors consider the laparotomy as optimal variant of surgical approach in acute period of trauma. The postoperative lethality was 15.6%.

[Treatment of giant diaphragmatic hernia].

The authors demonstrate the results of treatment (16 patients) with giant paraesophageal and posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia. The article represents the main principles of operation management, key moments of the choice of access, operative techniques and also the features of the usage of modern reticular implants.

Diaphragmatic hernia during pregnancy: a case report with a review of the literature from the past 50 years.

Diaphragmatic hernia is a rare complication during pregnancy. Only 30 reports have been published on this subject in English between 1959 and 2009. Due to misdiagnoses and management delays, diaphragmatic hernia usually presents itself as a life-threatening emergency. Here, we present a case report of a patient with a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia who became acutely symptomatic during pregnancy. The diaphragmatic hernia was managed successfully, and we describe the presentation, management and outcome of this case. We also present a review of all of the reported cases of diaphragmatic hernias complicating pregnancy that have been published in English during the past 50 years.

Diaphragmatic laceration, partial liver herniation and catamenial pneumothorax.

Catamenial pneumothorax is a recurrent pneumothorax temporally associated with menstruation. Pathogenesis remains debated however pleural endometriosis or diaphragmatic abnormalities are almost always present. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman with recurrent right catamenial pneumothorax. At thoracoscopy a large laceration of the diaphragm with partial intrathoracic liver herniation was seen. Treatment involved repair of the diaphragmatic lacerations, and pleurodesis. This report shows that large diaphragmatic defects may be observed in patients with catamenial pneumothorax.

Hernia Diagramática Traumática. Análisis de Cincuenta y Cuatro Pacientes en Diez Años en el Hospital Universitario San José de Popayán / Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias. Analysis of fifty four patients during ten years in the Hospital Universitario San José de Popayán

Este trabajo se realizó con el objeto de verificar la incidencia, espectro de presentación, utilidad de las ayudas diagnósticas y tratamiento de las hernias diafragmáticas traumáticas en el Hospital Universitario de San José de Popayán. Entre enero de 1987 y diciembre de 1996 ingresaron a este hospital 460 pacientes con diagnóstico de herida de diafragma, toracoabdominal y/o hernia diafragmática de los cuales se seleccionaron 54 con hernia diafragmática traumática comprobada. El 88.8 por ciento de los 54 pacientes con hernia diafragmática traumática se detectó antes de las 48 h postrauma; de éstos, el 39.6 por cientono presentaban síntomas e igual porcentaje sólo hipoventilación basal y/o dolor abdominal. El 31.2 por ciento de estos pacientes presentaban epiplocele transtorácico, hallazgo diagnóstico de hernia diafragmática traumática; el grupo más afectado fue el de los hombres entre 20 y 39 años. El trauma abierto fue la causa en el 92.6 por ciento. El diagnóstico se alcanzó en un alto número de casos con métodos convencionales, la laparoscopia y toracoscopia son útiles para el diagnóstico temprano de herida diafragmática oculta. Debe existir un alto índice de sospecha de herida en trauma toracoabdominal para diagnosticar tempranamente la hernia diafragmática traumática

Lesiones de Diafragma en el Hospital Universitario Ramón González Valencia / Injuries of the Diaphragm at the Hospital Universitario Ramón González Valencia

Se revisan retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de 621 pacientes a quienes se les practicó laparotomía exploradora por trauma durante el período de octubre 31 de 1990 a mayo 1 de 1993 en el Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital Universitario Ramón González Valencia. Del total, 167 pacientes (26.8 por ciento) presentan lesiones del diafragma. El principal mecanismo de lesión fue el arma cortopunzante en el 65.2 por ciento de los casos, y el arma de fuego con un 34.1 por ciento. Se analizan las indicaciones de cirugía, específicamente la exploración digital en heridas por arma cortopunzante, practicándose en un 43.1 por ciento de los pacientes, con sensibilidad del 92.1 por ciento y especificidad del 85.7 por ciento. Las complicaciones se presentaron en un 31.1 por ciento, siendo las más frecuentes la infección de la herida quirúrgica en un 8.38 por ciento. La mortalidad del total de pacientes de este estudio fue de 1.74 por ciento

Hernia diafragmática traumática / Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia

Se registran todos los casos de hernia diafragmática traumática ingresados a nuestro hospital desde el año 1949 a 1992. Se analizan 60 casos. Cincuenta hombres y 10 mujeres, la edad fluctuó de 11 a 74 años con un promedio de 39 años. Un alto índice de sospecha es el elemento más importante para el diagnóstico preoperatorio. Traumatismos penetrantes corresponden al 56,7 por ciento y los cerrados al 43,3 por ciento de los casos. La mayor parte de los traumatismos cerrados fue por accidentes de tránsito y los traumas penetrantes fue por arma blanca. El 93,3 por ciento de las hernias son del hemitórax izquierdo. El 31,7 por ciento de los pacientes se operaron en el primer mes de ocurrido el trauma. Dos pacientes no se operaron. La mortalidad de los ciencuenta y ocho casos operados es de 10,3 por ciento. La vía de acceso de elección en el paciente de urgencia es la abdominal mientras que en las tardías es la torácica

[Diaphragmatic rupture in the domestic cat--pathophysiology and anesthesia complications]. / Die Zwerchfellruptur bei der Hauskatze--Pathophysiologie und Narkosekomplikationen.

The high mortality in animals with diaphragmatic hernia has been related to profound cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Shock, liver disease and renal failure are among the most common causes of death. 18 cats with traumatic diaphragmatic hernia were anaesthetized. The duration of diaphragmatic hernia ranged from a few hours to 9 months. With the exception of transient cardiac dysrhythmias or weak pulse pressures which occurred in some cats only, anaesthesia was uneventful in 14 cats. Four cats out of 18 died either during surgery (n = 2) or within the following 24 hours (n = 2). Pathophysiology and anesthetic management in cats with diaphragmatic hernia are discussed.

[A case of traumatic right diaphragmatic hernia].

A 65-year-old female was sent to our hospital by ambulance car after being struck by a car. Chest X-ray showed a elevation of the right diaphragm. Computed tomography and liver scintigram revealed herniation of the liver into the right thorax. As the blood gas analysis was in normal range and cerebral contusion coexisted, she was observed without operation. During 5 year after the injury, the hernia was gradually progressive and dyspnea appeared finally. She was readmitted to the hospital and operated upon through thoraco-abdominal approach. There are no report of spontaneous cure of the hernia. When traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is diagnosed, an operation consistent with the patient's general condition should be performed at that time.

[Rupture of the diaphragm of late manifestation]. / Les ruptures du diaphragme de révélation tardive.

Twenty one cases of delayed diagnosis of ruptured diaphragm caused by closed trauma are reported: 14 on the left side and 7 on the right side. The clinical signs and the modes of presentation are non-specific. Although the history of thoraco-abdominal trauma and the chest x-ray are sufficient to establish the diagnosis of rupture of the left hemidiaphragm, they can only suggest the diagnosis in cases of righ-sided rupture. The mechanism of rupture is more often due to sudden reflex contraction of the diaphragm against a closed glottis than to excessive abdominal pressure caused by the trauma. Diaphragmatic rupture due to closed trauma causes large tears exposing the patient to a low risk of strangulation of intestinal structures in contrast with ruptures due to a penetrating injury, which causes small tears. The diaphragmatic domes must be systematically explored during laparotomy or thoracotomy performed for thoraco-abdominal trauma.

Unusual electrocardiographic manifestations in conditions with increased intrathoracic pressure.

Clinical, electrocardiographic and haemodynamic findings of 10 patients suffering from intrathoracic conditions were analyzed. Three patients suffering from left spontaneous pneumothorax, three from large left pleural effusion, three from traumatic rupture of the left diaphragm and one from sliding hiatus hernia were found to have electrocardiographic alternation, while their central venous pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were increased. With the correction of the condition the electrocardiographic alternation disappeared and the pressures returned to normal. The increase in direct or indirect pressure exerted on the global surface of the heart, as it is reflected in pulmonary capillary and venous pressures, seems to be the cause of the electrical alternation observed in these patients.

[Respiratory function after traumatic rupture of the diaphragm]. / La funzionalità respiratoria dopo rottura traumatica del diaframma.

In eight patients who underwent surgical treatment for diaphragmatic rupture, pulmonary function and differential ventilation of the lungs were evaluated four months-one year after surgery. The results of the study show that diaphragmatic rupture produces only a small reduction in total ventilatory function. Moreover our data indicate that the ventilation estimated to be contributed by the side injured, is decreased in a larger extent in abdominal than in thoracic trauma.