Laparoscopic treatment of incarcerated posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia.

An 8-year-old girl was admitted in acute respiratory distress after a direct blunt trauma to the posterior thorax. X-Rays denoted the stomach containing air and fluid within the left thoracic cavity. The authors performed laparoscopic reduction of the hernia and sutured the posterior diaphragmatic rent. The patients condition improved immediately and she was discharged in very good condition 48 h later. The advantages of the technique are presented.