Ruptura diafragmática traumática: presentación de un caso / Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture: presentation of a case / Ruptura diafragmática traumática: apresentação de um caso

RESUMEN Introducción: el diafragma es un tabique que separa el tórax del abdomen y su función fisiológica es ayudar a la mecánica de la ventilación. La ruptura diafragmática traumática es una entidad de difícil diagnóstico inicial, por la baja sospecha clínica, lo que lleva a complicaciones como la estrangulación, que tiene una elevada morbimortalidad. Las lesiones traumáticas del diafragma son poco frecuentes, la incidencia global por mecanismo penetrante y cerrado es del 1 % al 6 %. Presentación de caso: paciente masculino de 20 años de edad con antecedentes de salud aparente, acude al servicio de urgencia a las 2 horas luego de haber sufrido accidente laboral al desprenderse un banco de arena sobre él, refiriendo dificultad para respirar y dolor torácico en hemitorax izquierdo, los estudios de imágenes practicados mostraron presencia de cámara gástrica y colon en hemitorax izquierdo, es intervenido quirúrgicamente con impresión diagnostica de ruptura diafragmática secundaria a traumatismo cerrado de abdomen. Durante el transoperatorio se comprobó la misma (laceración lineal que involucra todo hemidiafragma izquierdo) con herniación del estómago, bazo, colon transverso y parte de intestino delgado en cavidad torácica. Se realizó frenorrafia y pleurostomia baja izquierda. No otras alteraciones intraabdominales. Discusión: la rotura traumática del diafragma es una lesión infrecuente que ocurre como consecuencia de traumatismos cerrados y penetrantes del abdomen o del tórax. Su diagnóstico precoz continúa siendo un desafío y se asocia con una elevada morbimortalidad. El diagnóstico preoperatorio es difícil y sólo un alto nivel de sospecha, un examen minucioso de las técnicas de imagen y la intervención quirúrgica inmediata, son determinantes para el éxito en el tratamiento de estos pacientes. Conclusiones: nuestro paciente no presentó complicaciones mayores en el perioperatorio, a las 24 horas estaba con dieta y deambulando se retiró la sonda pleural a las 72 horas y ha tenido una evolución favorable libre de síntomas, siendo dado de alta a los 10 días.

ABSTRACT Introduction: the diaphragm is a septum that separates the thorax from the abdomen and its physiological function is to help the mechanics of ventilation. Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is an entity of difficult initial diagnosis, due to low clinical suspicion, which leads to complications such as strangulation, which has high morbidity and mortality. Traumatic injuries to the diaphragm are rare, the overall incidence due to penetrating and closed mechanism is 1% to 6%. Case presentation: 20-year-old male patient with apparent health history, attended the emergency service 2 hours after having suffered an occupational accident when a sandbar fell off him, reporting difficulty breathing and chest pain in hemithorax On the left, the imaging studies performed showed the presence of a gastric chamber and colon in the left hemithorax, he was operated on with a diagnostic impression of a diaphragmatic rupture secondary to blunt abdominal trauma. During the intraoperative it was verified (linear laceration involving the entire left hemidiaphragm) with herniation of the stomach, spleen, transverse colon and part of the small intestine in the thoracic cavity. Left low pleurostomy and frenorrhaphy were performed. No other intra-abdominal alterations. Discussion: traumatic diaphragm rupture is an infrequent injury that occurs as a consequence of blunt and penetrating trauma to the abdomen or chest. Early diagnosis of it continues to be a challenge and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult and only a high level of suspicion, a thorough examination of imaging techniques, and immediate surgical intervention are decisive for the success of treating these patients. Conclusions: our patient did not present major complications in the perioperative period, at 24 hours he was on a diet and wandering, the pleural tube was removed at 72 hours and has had a favorable symptom-free evolution, being discharged at 10 days.

RESUMO Introdução: o diafragma é um septo que separa o tórax do abdome e sua função fisiológica é auxiliar na mecânica da ventilação. A ruptura diafragmática traumática é uma entidade de difícil diagnóstico inicial, devido à baixa suspeita clínica, o que leva a complicações como o estrangulamento, que apresenta elevada morbimortalidade. Lesões traumáticas do diafragma são raras, a incidência geral devido ao mecanismo penetrante e fechado é de 1% a 6%. Apresentação do caso: Paciente do sexo masculino, 20 anos, com história aparente de saúde, compareceu ao pronto-socorro 2 horas após ter sofrido acidente de trabalho com queda de banco de areia, relatando dificuldade respiratória e dor torácica em hemitórax À esquerda, exames de imagem realizados mostrou a presença de câmara gástrica e cólon em hemitórax esquerdo, foi operado com impressão diagnóstica de ruptura diafragmática secundária a trauma abdominal fechado. No intraoperatório, constatou-se (laceração linear envolvendo todo o hemidiafragma esquerdo) com herniação do estômago, baço, cólon transverso e parte do intestino delgado na cavidade torácica. Realizada pleurostomia baixa esquerda e frenorrafia. Sem outras alterações intra-abdominais. Discussão: a ruptura traumática do diafragma é uma lesão infrequente que ocorre como consequência de trauma contuso e penetrante no abdome ou no tórax. Seu diagnóstico precoce continua sendo um desafio e está associado a elevada morbimortalidade. O diagnóstico pré-operatório é difícil e apenas um alto nível de suspeita, um exame cuidadoso das técnicas de imagem e a intervenção cirúrgica imediata são decisivos para o sucesso do tratamento desses pacientes. Conclusões: nosso paciente não apresentou complicações maiores no período perioperatório, às 24 horas fazia dieta e vagueava, a tuba pleural foi retirada às 72 horas e teve evolução favorável sem sintomas, tendo alta hospitalar aos 10 dias.

Imagen en trauma toracoabdominal.Un diagnóstico diferencial difícil / Image in thoracoabdominal trauma. A difficult differential diagnosis

Resumen Hombre de 70 años de edad, quien ingresó en el área de urgencias con antecedente de atropellamiento. Refería dolor torácico bilateral y disnea. Al examen físico lo encontramos con vía aérea permeable, ausencia de murmullo vesicular en porción inferior de hemitórax derecho asociada con pérdida de la matidez hepática, hemodinámicamente estable, consciente, con puntaje de 15 en la escala de coma de Glasgow. Se obtuvo radiografía de tórax, la cual reveló una imagen radiolúcida por encima del hígado, por lo cual se solicitó tomografía de abdomen con contraste, la que permitió corroborar la integridad del diafragma. Este tipo de imagen radiológica puede sugerir una ruptura diafragmática traumática; sin embargo, sólo se trata de un hallazgo radiográfico.

Abstract A 70-year-old male entered the emergency department after being hit by a car. He had bilateral thoracic pain and dyspnea. On the physical examination we found him with patent airway, absence of vesicular murmur in the lower portion of the right hemithorax in association with loss of hepatic dullness, hemodinamic stability, conscious with 15 points on the Glasgow coma scale. We obtained a plain thoracic x-ray, which revealed a radiolucent image over the liver; for that reason, we obtained a contrasted CT-scan which showed diaphragmatic integrity. This image finding may suggest a traumatic diaphragmatic rupture; however, it may be only a radiological finding.

Strategy of Early Diagnosis in Blunt Diaphragm Rupture

Diaphragm rupture often challenges the surgeon by it's subtle presentation in the face of more obvious injuries, equivocal chest roentgenography, and no obvious indication of celiotomy or thoracotomy. Delayed diagnosis is one variable implicated in increased morbidity and mortality. This retrospective study was performed to determine the diagnostic value of diaphragm rupture on initial evaluation and to present an algorithm for initial evaluation. We reviewed the hospital records and the radiographs of 37 patients with a blunt diaphragmatic rupture who were treated at Yongdong Severance Hospital during a period of 5 years. The blunt diaphragmatic ruptures in 14 (38.9%) of the thirty-seven patients were missed on initial admission. At admission, initial physical findings were diagnostic in 3 cases (8.1%), suspicious in 24 cases (64.9%) and normal in 10 cases (27%). On chest roentgenogram, findings were diagnostic in 6 cases (16.2%), suspicious in 28 cases (75.7%) and normal in 3 cases (8.1%). Chest CT scans were performed on 20 patients. Findings were diagnostic in 6 (30%) of these, suspicious in 11 (55%) and normal in 3 (15%). On the chest roentgenograms of the 15 cases with suspicious physical findings, which were diagnosed early, the findings were diagnostic in 4 cases (26.7%) and suspicious in 11 cases (73.3%). Chest CT scans were performed in 10 out of 15 cases with suspicious physical findings which were diagnosed early, and the findings were diagnostic in 3 cases (30%), suspicious in 6 cases (60%), normal in 1 case (10%). In 23 patients (61.1%), diagnosis was established within 48 hours. In 4 (17.4%) of these patients, the diaphragm rupture was detected at the time of the celiotomy performed for other injuries. In conclusion, a blunt diaphragm rupture can easily be missed in the absence of obvious indications for a celiotomy or a thoracotomy, because radiologic abnormalities are often interpreted as other injuries. In such cases, a high index of suspicion coupled with selective use of a CT scan, fluoroscopy, thoracoscopy, or laparoscopy may be necessary for early detection of the diaphragm rupture.

Clinical Analysis of Traumatic Diaphragmatic Rupture / 대한흉부외과학회지

The records of 14 patients with traumatic diaphragmatic rupture seen at Dongguk University Hospital from February 1992 through December 1995 were reviewed. Ten patients were male and four were female(M:F=2.5:1). The age distribution ranged from 17 to 73 years with the mean age of 41.7 years. The 14 patients included 12 who had blunt trauma(traffic accident 11, crushing injury 1) and 2 with penetrating diaphragmatic rupture(stab wound 2). Of those 12 blunt trauma, 7 patients(58.3%) were left sided and 5(41.7%) involved the right hemidiaphragm. The diagnosis was made preoperatively in 8 patients (57.1%) and during surgery in 6(42.9%). All right-sided injuries were repaired through a thoracotomy and left-sided defects were corrected through a laparotomy in 6, laparotomy and thoracotomy in 1. There were 2(14.3%) operative deaths that were caused by myocardial infarction and the sequelae of combined injuries.

Crura Sign: Differentiation between Traumatic Rupture of the Diaphragm and Nontraumatic Elevation on CT

PURPOSE: To evalvate whether in patients with diffuse evaluation of a hemidiaphragm on chest radiographs, the apparence of the crura on CT might be helpful in differentiating between traumatic rupture of the diaphragm(TRD) and nontraumatic causes such as diaphragmatic palsy or diffuse diaphragmatic eventration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among patients with diffuse elevations of a hemidiaphragm on chest radiograph, 27 who had patients undergone CT scans were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve patients had surgically proven TRD, and 15 had nontraumatic elevation of a hemidiaphragm such as diaphragmatic palsy or diffuse diaphragmatic eventration. Under the hypothesis that the affected crus is markedly thinner than the normal side in nontraumatic elevation but is normal in TRD ("crura sign"), we optically assessed without measurement the thickness of both crura. RESULTS: In all patients with TRD, the thickness of the affected crus was similar to that of the contralateral side. In all patients with nontraumatic causes, however, the crus of the elevated hemidiaphragm was markedly thinner than of the normal side. CONCLUSION: The "crura sign" may be useful additional CT finding of traumatic rupture the diaphragm.