The feasibility and safety of same-day surgery for diaphragmatic eventration by minithoracotomy in children

The diaphragmatic plication procedure by thoracoscopy has gradually become standard treatment for diaphragmatic eventration (DE). However, thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication is difficult to manipulate and the surgical learning curve is long. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of same-day surgery for DE by minithoracotomy in children.

From December 2017 to December 2019, we included 22 patients who underwent diaphragmatic plication of DE in the Department of Pediatric Thoracic Surgery at the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center. A total of 10 patients underwent diaphragmatic plication by minithoracotomy and 12 patients underwent thoracoscopic plication. The perioperative condition and postoperative follow-up were evaluated, respectively.

The age, sex, and weight were no different in the minithoracotomy group versus the thoracoscopy group (P > 0.05). The intraoperative time, blood loss volume, and postoperative hospital stay of the minithoracotomy group were significantly less than that of the thoracoscopy group (31.10 ± 4.70 min vs. 72.08 ± 22.8 min; 1.20 ± 0.42 ml vs. 2.58 ± 1.67 ml; and 1.00 ± 0.00 days vs. 6.00 ± 2.95 days, respectively, all P < 0.05). The eventration levels in these two groups were significantly different in the perioperative and postoperative periods as detected by chest X-ray. No chest tubes were inserted and no recurrence of DE occurred in the thoracoscopy group through the postoperative follow-up of at least 6 months.

Same-day surgery by minithoracotomy as a treatment for DE was feasible and safe with less operative time, less blood loss, and low recurrence. Same-day surgery for DE was attributed to a quick recovery. More prospective studies are necessary to further explore the consequences of same-day surgery for DE by minithoracotomy.