[Morgagni-Larrey diaphragmatic hernia. Personal case series]

The diaphragmatic hernia described by Morgagni in 1761 and by Larrey in 1829 is a rare diaphragmatic anomaly that may be considered nearly always congenital. It is called in so many ways, but the authors think that "anterior diaphragmatic hernia of Morgagni-Larrey" is the most correct name. Usually asymptomatic in the first years of life, it may be discovered by chance or cause problems in the adult or elderly patient. The Morgagni-Larrey hernia includes every peritoneal or visceral hernia across an anterior diaphragmatic door limited by the right xifosternal-costal wall and, on the back, by diaphragm, pleura and pericardium. Morgagni-Larrey hernia usually has a peritoneal sac, that distinguishes this hernia from the Bochdalek one. Because of the presence of the sac, Morgagni-Larrey hernia probably begins in the fetal phase of diaphragmatic evolution, when pleura and peritoneum separate and the diaphragm becomes a real muscle. The hernia often contains: transverse colon, liver, epiploon, but sometimes there may also be small bowel, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder. The diagnosis of Morgagni-Larrey hernia is usually radiological; a thoracic radiography can demonstrate the presence of diaphragmatic hernia especially when the viscera contained in the sac contain air. So you can see different images in a second radiography one hour later to the first, depending on variation of contained air.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)