Laparoscopic repair of a diaphragmatic laceration

The role of laparoscopy in the management of trauma patients has yet to be determined. In the stable patient, laparoscopy can be used to verify peritoneal penetration and intra-abdominal organ injuries. This report describes a diaphragmatic laceration in a 17-year-old boy secondary to a single stab wound. This injury of the left hemidiaphragm was identified and repaired using laparoscopic techniques. This case demonstrates the value of laparoscopy as both a diagnostic and a therapeutic tool in the management of trauma patients.