Missile Diaphragmatic Injuries: Kashmir Experience

Abstract

Background: Importance of repairing a diaphragmatic tear due to a missile injury cannot be overemphasized.Even a small
diaphragmatic rent should be repaired because of morbidity and mortality caused by subsequent herniation and strangulation.
Methods: Fifty-three cases with diaphragmatic injuries caused by penetrating missiles were studied from January 1997 to
January 2007. All the patients were primarily explored either for thoracic or abdominal penetrating trauma; the diaphragmatic
injury was an associated incidental intraoperative finding. Thoracotomy was performed in 18 patients, Laprotomy in 33 patients
and in two patients combined thorocoabdominal approach was utilised for managing associated visceral injuries.
Results: Overall mortality was 37.7%.Mortality was dependent on associated injuries of thoracic and abdominal viscera. Most
patients died due to associated injuries and septicaemia. None of the patients had any sequelae of diaphragmatic repair.
Conclusion: Immediate repair of diaphragmatic injury is of paramount importance to prevent subsequent complications of
herniation and strangulation.
Lone, R. A., Akbar, B. M., Sharma, M., Lateef, W. M., Ahangar, A., Lone, G., Dar, A. M., Singh, S., Shah, M., Hussain, Z., Irshad, I., & Rasool, F. (2009). Missile Diaphragmatic Injuries: Kashmir Experience. International Journal of Health Sciences, 3(1). Retrieved from https://pub.qu.edu.sa/index.php/journal/article/view/27
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