Robotic Transthoracic Repair of a Right-Sided Traumatic Diaphragmatic Rupture

Introduction  Traumatic diaphragm rupture injury repairs are predominately performed through thoracotomy, laparotomy, or a combination of the two approaches. While open surgery is often necessary to follow the fundamentals of damage-control operations in unstable or polytrauma patients, minimally invasive surgery may be an alternative for those with a low injury burden to reduce the postoperative morbidities associated with open operations. Case Description  We describe the first case of a right-sided diaphragm rupture from blunt trauma that was repaired by a robotic transthoracic approach in the index admission. Conclusion  Minimally invasive repair of an acute traumatic diaphragm rupture is feasible in selected trauma patients.