[Diaphragmatic ruptures in combined injuries to the chest and abdomen]

An experience with diagnosing and surgical treatment of 16 patients with rupture of the diaphragms is described. Operations were performed on 13 patients, 10 of them by the laparotomy access, 3 patients by the transpleural access. In patients with an extensive rupture of the diaphragm continuous respiratory insufficiency was observed in the postoperative period which required the artificial ventilation of the lungs. Eight patients died, 3 of them without an operative treatment, 3--from pulmonary complications and 2--from a cerebro-cranial trauma.