Plication for Diaphragmatic Eventration

Open Transthoracic Plication of the Diaphragm for Unilateral Diaphragmatic Eventration in Infants and Children

Background

To evaluate our experience of early surgical plication for diaphragmatic eventration (DE) in infancy and childhood.

Methods

This study evaluated infants and children with symptomatic DE who underwent plication through an open transthoracic approach in our childhood development department between January 2005 and December 2012. Surgical plication was performed in several rows using polypropylene U-stitches with Teflon pledgets.

Results

The study included 12 infants and children (7 boys and 5 girls) with symptomatic DE (9 congenital and 3 acquired). Reported symptoms included respiratory distress (91.7%), wheezing (75%), cough (66.7%), and recurrent pneumonia (50%). Preoperative mechanical ventilatory support was required in 41.7% of the patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.3±2.5 days. The mean follow-up period was 24.3±14.5 months. Preoperative symptoms were immediately relieved after surgery in 83.3% of patients and persisted in 16.7% of patients one year after surgery. All patients survived to the end of the two-year follow-up and none had recurrence of DE.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis and surgical plication of the diaphragm for symptomatic congenital or acquired diaphragmatic eventration offers a good clinical outcome with no recurrence.

Video assisted thoracoscopic plication of the left hemidiaphragm in symptomatic eventration in adulthood

Diaphragmatic eventration is a rare congenital developmental defect of the muscular portion of the diaphragm, which appears attenuated and membranous, maintaining its normal attachments and its anatomical continuity. It has been attributed to abnormal myoblast migration to the septum transversum and the pleuroperitoneal membrane. Eventration can be unilateral or bilateral, partial or complete. It is more common in males, and involves more often the left hemidiaphragm. Eventration results in diaphragmatic elevation (cephalad displacement). Most adults are asymptomatic and the diagnosis is incidentally made by chest radiography. The commonest symptom in the adults is dyspnoea, while orthopnoea, mild hypoxemia, tachypnoea, respiratory alkalosis, palpitations, and non specific gastrointestinal symptoms may be present. Surgery is indicated only in the presence of symptoms. The established surgical treatment is diaphragmatic plication. Various techniques and approaches have been employed. We present a simple surgical technique of a 3-port video assisted thoracoscopic plication of the left hemidiaphragm in the adult.

Early hemi-diaphragmatic plication through a video assisted mini-thoracotomy in postcardiotomy phrenic nerve paresis

New symptom onset of respiratory distress without other cause, and new hemi-diaphragmatic elevation on chest radiography postcardiotomy, are usually adequate for the diagnosis of phrenic nerve paresis. The symptom severity varies (asymptomatic state to severe respiratory failure) depending on the degree of the lesion (paresis vs. paralysis), the laterality (unilateral or bilateral), the age, and the co-morbidity (respiratory, cardiac disease, morbid obesity, etc). Surgical treatment (hemi-diaphragmatic plication) is indicated only in the presence of symptoms. The established surgical treatment is plication of the affected hemidiaphragm which is generally considered safe and effective. Several techniques and approaches are employed for diaphragmatic plication (thoracotomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, video-assisted mini-thoracotomy, laparoscopic surgery). The timing of surgery depends on the severity and the progression of symptoms. In infants and young children with postcardiotomy phrenic nerve paresis the clinical status is usually severe (failure to wean from mechanical ventilation), and early plication is indicated. Adults with postcardiotomy phrenic nerve paresis usually suffer from chronic dyspnoea, and, in the absence of respiratory distress, conservative treatment is recommended for 6 months -2 years, since improvement is often observed. Nevertheless, earlier surgical treatment may be indicated in non-resolving respiratory failure. We present early (25(th) day postcardiotomy) right hemi-diaphragm plication, through a video assisted mini-thoracotomy in a high risk patient with postcardiotomy phrenic nerve paresis and respiratory distress. Early surgery with minimal surgical trauma, short operative time, minimal blood loss and postoperative pain, led to fast rehabilitation and avoidance of prolonged hospitalization complications. The relevant literature is discussed.

Surgical treatment of diaphragmatic eventration using video-assisted thoracic surgery: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

This study seeks to evaluate results regarding the repair of diaphragmatic eventration using video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

METHODS

We performed a prospective observational study including patients referred to us for surgical treatment of diaphragmatic eventration during a 12-year period. Clinical, radiologic, and functional data were prospectively recorded. VATS was performed with two thoracoports and a 4-cm mini-thoracotomy. Diaphragmatic plication was performed using two nonresorbable running sutures from periphery to the cardio-phrenic angle. Follow-up data (clinical examination, chest roentgenogram, lung function tests at 3, 6, 12 months, and annually thereafter) were also prospectively recorded.

RESULTS

Twelve patients (4 male adults, mean age 57.7 +/- 14.8 years) were operated on between 1992 and 2003. The left side was involved in 8 patients and the mean height of diaphragm elevation was 7.5 +/- 1.8 cm. All patients experienced symptoms related to the disease; in 2 patients the operation was carried out to achieve weaning from mechanical ventilation. The etiologic mechanism could be identified in 11 out of 12 patients (trauma, n = 9; Charcot-Marie disease, n = 1; calcified para-aortic nodes, n = 1). Mean operative time, drainage output, and hospital stay were 77 +/- 15 minutes, 0.8 +/- 04 L, and 3.4 +/- 0.7 days, respectively. No mortality was observed; 1 patient experienced postoperative pneumonia, which was treated using antibiotics. All patients experienced amelioration of symptoms and long-term lung function tests revealed a marked improvement of both the forced volume capacity and the forced expiratory volume at 1 second. No relapses were observed at follow-up chest roentgenogram.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment using VATS is a safe and effective alternative to conventional surgery. Functional improvement persists at long-term follow-up.