Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias: a report of 19 cases

From an analysis of 19 patients with traumatic diaphragmatic hernias with respect to the type of injury, associated injuries, clinical and radiologic features, diagnosis, surgical management and causes of death and from a review of the literature, the authors draw a number of conclusions. 1. Careful clinical examination coupled with an accurate interpretation of the roentgenograms should detect most cases of traumatic rupture of the diaphragm. 2. Impairment of respiratory function, possibility of strangulation and incarceration of the abdominal viscera demand early repair. 3. The choice of incision and approach depends on the stage at which the rupture is recognized (early or late), the site of rupture and the associated injuries. 4. Careful assessment of respiratory function should be made in order to prevent postoperative complications; in some cases respiration must be assisted. 5. Although the mortality in patients with traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is still relatively high, the deaths sould not be related to the rupture per se, or to its repair, but rather to the associated injuries.