Morgagni-larrey hernia- a review of 20 cases

Morgagni-Larrey hernia is an uncommon entity. The majority of the literature describes hernia occurring mostly on the right side, a few on the left side and rarely bilateral. Retrospective chart review was done for the patients with the diagnosis of adult diaphragmatic hernia from January 1997 to December 2010. Post-operative course was evaluated for outcome, morbidity and mortality. Out of 20 patients, 13 (65 %) were males and 7 (35 %) were females. Their age ranged from 17 to 50 years (mean = 29.6). Abdominal discomfort was the most common presentation. Eight patients (40 %) were asymptomatic at presentation. Plain X-Ray chest was done for all. Ten patients (50 %) underwent suture repair, 6 (30 %) had mesh placement and the other 4 (25 %) underwent both: suture repair buttressed with mesh. Volvulus of stomach was noted in 5 (25 %) cases. All patients had left sided hernia. There was insignificant morbidity and no mortality. There was no recurrence in 16 patients followed up for a mean duration of 20 months (range = 8 to 32 months). In Morgagni-Larrey hernia, abdominal approach gives good accessibility to reduce the hernia and to undertake repair. When complicated with incarceration, perforation, gangrene or volvulus of the herniated bowel; this can be dealt with ease. Plain X Ray of the chest is fairly accurate in suggesting the diagnosis of Morgagni-Larrey hernia.