Treatment of Morgagni hernias by transabdominal approach

Recently, the thoracic approach has been suggested in the surgical treatment of Morgagni hernias with some reported advantages over abdominal surgery. This manuscript reports the authors' experience with childhood Morgagni hernias repaired via laparotomy.

Records of five cases of Morgagni hernias were evaluated with respect to age, presentation, operative data, complications, and outcome.

The average age of four male and one female patients was 34 months (range 6 months to 8 years). Predominant presenting symptoms were related to the respiratory system. The diagnoses were made by posterior-anterior and lateral chest X-rays and confirmed by barium enema contrast radiographs. Associated anomalies were detected in three cases. All cases were managed by abdominal approach through upper midline incisions reducing the herniated viscera (transverse colon in all and including omentum in one patient) and excising the hernia sac which was present in all patients. The postoperative period was uneventful in this series and no recurrence was detected in an average of four years of follow-up.

The transabdominal approach is appropriate in the surgical correction of paediatric Morgagni hernias.