ATS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Brown, G. L.
Right arrow Articles by Richardson, J. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Brown, G. L.
Right arrow Articles by Richardson, J. D.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 39, 170-173, Copyright © 1985 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons


ARTICLES

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia: a continuing challenge

GL Brown and JD Richardson

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is an uncommon but important problem in the patient with multiple injuries. Since diaphragmatic injuries are difficult to diagnose, those that are missed may present with latent symptoms of bowel obstruction and strangulation. From 1957 to 1982, we treated 41 patients with traumatic diaphragmatic hernias. In 39 patients (95%), diaphragmatic hernia followed blunt trauma. The herniation occurred on the right side in 14 patients and on the left side in 29; it was bilateral in 2. Twenty-four patients had diagnostic chest radiographs, and an additional 11 had abnormal but nondiagnostic studies. Peritoneal lavage was of little value in making the preoperative diagnosis. Twenty-three patients underwent laparotomy only, 13 required thoracotomy alone, and 5 had combined laparotomy and thoracotomy. There were 7 deaths (17%) from associated injuries. Only one missed injury was encountered; a second delayed hernia, initially treated elsewhere, was repaired 45 years after the original trauma. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia should be suspected on the basis of an abnormal chest radiograph in the trauma victim with multiple injuries. Right-sided injuries occur more commonly than previously thought and often require dual incisions (laparotomy and thoracotomy) for diagnosis and treatment. The organization of emergency care for such patients is critical in avoiding the potential of long-term sequelae.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
R. Shah, S. Sabanathan, A. J. Mearns, and A. K. Choudhury
Traumatic Rupture of Diaphragm
Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 1995; 60(5): 1444 - 1449.
[Abstract] [Full Text]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 1985 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.