[Laparoscopic diagnosis and therapy of closed traumatic diaphragmatic rupture]

Diagnosis of blunt diaphragmatic rupture is still a challenging problem. This injury is generally treated by direct closure of the defect via a laparotomy or a thoracotomy. As it occurs frequently in severely traumatized patients, we wondered whether those patients could benefit from the well-known advantages of minimally invasive surgery. We report the records of two patients who underwent laparoscopy for blunt diaphragmatic hernia. In both patients, the hernia was laparoscopically closed without opening the abdomen. We did not see any intra- or postoperative complications related to minimally invasive surgery; the postoperative recovery was impressively short. Taking into account the fact that diaphragmatic ruptures are frequently misdiagnosed, we recommend laparoscopy as a useful tool in cases where these injuries may be suspected. In selected patients, primary closure of the defect may be achieved within the same laparoscopy so that laparotomy can be avoided.