[Results of the treatment of diaphragmatic lesions (author's transl)]

During the period of 1959 to 1975 34 patients were operated at the Chirurgische Universitatsklinik Koln-Lindenthal because of lesions of the diaphragm. From the survivors 20 patients were examined again 2 to 15 years after operation. 15 patients (75%) stated subjective complaints. On these patients cicatrizations in the sinus phrenicocostalis, higher position of the diaphragm, axial hernia of the hiatus, restricted flexibility of the diaphragm, flattened diaphragm and paralysis of the diaphragm were found. More than 50% of the patients showed a significantly restricted total and vital capacity. Most important was the fact that in 25% of the reexamined patients there existed an axial hernia of the hiatus caused by the trauma.