Abstract
A 43-yea-old-man with a history of thoracic trauma five years previously was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal pain and distension. Chest and abdominal X-ray and CT revealed a prolapse of the transverse colon and greater omentum via the left diaphragm into the left thoracic cavity. A diagnosis of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia was made, and emergent thoracotomy and laparotomy were performed immediately. The defect in the left diaphragm through which the colon and omentum had herniated into the thoracic cavity measured 5cm in diameter. The herniated organs were reduced back into the abdominal cavity and the diaphragmatic defect was repaired with a PTFE patch. At present, 15 months after the surgery, the patient remains alive without any signs of recurrence. We think that the PTFE patch is quite effective for the repair of traumatic diaphragmatic hernias that cannot be repaired by direct suture.
