부산대학교 도서관

Diaphragmatic eventration is a condition with all or a portion of the hemidiaphragm elevated permanently, yet retaining its continuity and normal attachments to the costal margins. This diaphragmatic disease is rare and the cause is yet to be understood. In newborns, eventration with respiratory failure may require intubation and immediate surgical attention. For adults, indications for surgery are uncommon, and one must be very careful before recommending plication for respiratory or digestive symptoms. From 1978 to 2001, eleven adults were treated for diaphragmatic eventration, and their data were reviewed for this study. Their ages at diagnosis ranged from 34 to 82 years, with a mean of 55.3 years. Male and female were almost equally affected (6 men, 5 women). The left diaphragm was more frequently involved (9 left, 2 right). Ten symptomatic patients underwent exploratory thoracotomy, and one asymptomatic patient underwent thoracoscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Nine cases were classified as complete types, and the other two as partial types. Two of the 11 patients obtained a definitive diagnosis only after surgical intervention under the impression of diaphragmatic neoplasms. Diaphragmatic plications were performed for all ten symptomatic patients. The asymptomatic patient didn't undergo management after the diagnosis was confirmed via thoracoscopy. No surgical complication or mortality was encountered in our series. All ten symptomatic patients showed both subjective and objective improvement after operation. Based on our experience, diaphragmatic plication is a safe and effective procedure in the management of patients with symptomatic eventration.