Traumatic Diaphragmatic Injuries

Keimyung Medical Journal 1989;8(2):325-329.

외상성 횡격막 손상의 임상적 고찰

최세영; 라찬영; 하종곤; 박창권; 이광숙; 유영선

Abstract

Seventeen patients with traumatic diaphragmatic injury treated at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery; Keimyung University Dong San Medical Center from Aug. 1978 to Mar. 1989 were reviewed. There were 14 male and 3 female patients. The age distribution was ranged from 3 to 72 years; with a mean age of 43.6 years. Eleven patients had blunt trauma(traffic accident 10; fall down 1); and 6 had penetrating injuries(stab wound 5;brocken glass 1). Eleven (65 percent) of the injuries occurred on the left side and 6 (35 percent) on the right side. Ten patients were operated on during the acute phase;four patients during the latent phase; three patients during the obstructive phase. The surgical approach in 14 patients was through a thoracotomy; in 2 patients; a thoracoabdominal incision was necessary; and in 1 patient; a laparatomy was performed. Herniated organs in thorax included stomach(5)’ iiver(3); colon(3); small bowel(l). Postoperative complications included wound infection; empyema; pneumonia; and respiratory failure. There were 2 postoperative deaths; one with caused sepsis and one with respiratory failure.