Our surgical experience in traumatic and congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Single-center study

Diaphragmatic hernias can develop congenitally or secondary to trauma. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias occur with Bochdalek hernia and Morgagni hernia (MH). In this study, we aimed to present laparoscopic and open surgical treatment for traumatic and congenital diaphragmatic hernias, and complications and length of hospital stay in the light of the literature.

Twenty-two patients who were diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia between January 2013 and January 2020 in our clinic were examined retrospectively in terms of demographic features, clinical and radiological findings, and length of hospital stay.

The complaints of the patients diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia were often abdominal pain, shortness of breath, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distention. The mean age of the patients was 54 (19-88) years. Sixteen patients were females and six were males. Two patients were operated due to stab injury, six patients were operated due to ileus, and the remaining fourteen patients were operated due to congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Eight patients were operated under emergency conditions. The remaining patients were operated under elective conditions. The average hospital stay was 6(3-15) days. The length of hospital stay of those who underwent laparoscopic surgery was 4 (3-5) days. No patient had an exitus. All patients were discharged with healing. This rare pathology should be remembered especially in patients presenting with acute abdominal complaints accompanied by respiratory complaints.

We think that cases with MH detected incidentally should be operated laparoscopically before becoming complicated.