[Diaphragmatic injuries, classification and therapy].

Abstract

Injuries of the diaphragm are caused either by direct or indirect violence. In all such ruptures various portions of the abdominal viscera may have ascended into the thoracic cavity. The clinical manifestations are unpredictable and of infinite variety, and especially in massively traumatized patient masked by other injuries. A presumptive preoperative diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury from chest x-ray findings is only possible in about 50% of the cases. In other cases the diagnosis can be confirmed by water.soluble contrast enema into the stomach or colon. Rupture of the diaphragm is a strong indication for operation. In cases of fresh rupture we attempt repair of the diaphragm through a laparotomy incision. In old diaphragmatic rupture we prefer a thoracotomy incision.