Abdominal complications related to type of repair for congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-15-2007

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2007.03.018

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Literature on congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) over the past few decades has focused on prognostic factors and management of pulmonary hypertension/hypoplasia. Larger diaphragmatic defects may require patch closure, reported by some authors to be associated with poorer outcomes. In this study, we evaluate the impact synthetic material has on the need for subsequent abdominal operations, particularly recurrence and small bowel obstruction (SBO).

METHODS: After obtaining IRB approval, all patients undergoing repair of congenital diaphragmatic from January, 1994 to December, 2004 were investigated. Records from primary and subsequent admissions were reviewed to identify those patients who underwent major procedures after repair of the diaphragmatic defect. Subsequent abdominal operations in these series were recurrent CDH repair, exploration for SBO and fundoplication. Patients who died prior to hospital discharge were excluded. Statistical comparisons were made using Fisher's exact test: significance was defined as P<0.05.

RESULTS: During the study period, there were 81 survivors from CDH repair, 24 with a synthetic patch, and 57 without. Those with a patch repair had a significantly increased risk of recurrence, small bowel obstruction, and subsequent operation (Table 1). Eleven patients had nonabsorbable mesh patches, and 13 were repaired with absorbable (Surgisis-Gold; Cook Technology Inc., West Lafayette, IN). While there were no differences in recurrence between these two groups, four patients (31%) with Surgisis developed SBO compared with one patient (9%) repaired with a nonabsorbable synthetic.

CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of SBO and recurrent CDH in patients with a patch was higher than those who underwent primary repair. There may also be a difference in the rate of subsequent SBO depending on the type of mesh used. A prospective trial is under way at our institution to help define this issue.

Journal Title

The Journal of surgical research

Volume

140

Issue

2

First Page

234

Last Page

236

MeSH Keywords

Abdomen; Adolescent; Child; Digestive System Surgical Procedures; Duodenal Obstruction; Female; Hernia, Diaphragmatic; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; Humans; Male; Prognosis; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Surgical Mesh; Treatment Outcome

Keywords

Diaphragmatic hernia; surgical complications

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