Laparoscopic repair of Morgagni hernia

Morgagni hernia is a rare type of diaphragmatic hernia which represents less than 5% of all congenital diaphragmatic hernias. Patients are generally asymptomatic and are diagnosed incidentally. When symptomatic, it generates symptoms due to the compression of thoracic organs or compression of herniated intraabdominal organs. Once diagnosed, the condition requires prompt surgical correction. The defect is repaired either by primary suture or by the use of a prosthetic mesh. In adults, prosthetic mesh repair is preferred. Recently, laparoscopic repair of Morgagni hernia has been introduced and gained wide acceptance.

Between 2002 and 2004, 5 patients with Morgagni hernia were treated laparoscopically at our department. Female/male ratio was 3/2. Mean age was 56 years (range 41 to 69 y). Diagnosis were made by chest x-ray and CT scan. Herniation was on the left in 2 patients, and on the right in 3. The content of hernial sac was transverse colon and stomach. There were 2 separate defects in a patient with left-sided hernia. All cases were laparoscopically treated using prosthetic material.

All operations were completed laparoscopically. The postoperative hospital stay was 3 to 5 days with a mean of 4 days. None of the patients developed any complication in the early postoperative period. The mean follow-up period is 7 months (range 3 to 24 mo). All patients are actually in good health and without recurrence.

Laparoscopic repair of Morgagni hernia is a safe, simple, and reliable procedure which presents all the advantages of the minimally invasive surgery.