Arch Surg Chicago
-
Recent use of minimally invasive techniques to evaluate the chest and abdomen in patients with penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma has led to the discovery of many occult diaphragm injuries. Surgical repair of these injuries is relatively straightforward. However, diagnosis can be difficult, and the natural history of these injuries is controversial. By developing a penetrating diaphragm injury model, the ultrasonographic characteristics and natural history of this injury can be better understood. ⋯ We developed a penetrating diaphragm injury model with high and low risk of herniation. Ultrasonography may prove to be an important diagnostic adjunct in evaluating diaphragm injuries with and without herniation. Moreover, since the "protected" diaphragm injuries in our model healed spontaneously, a role may exist for the nonoperative treatment of diaphragm injuries in clinical practice. This pig model may prove useful in further defining future management and repair techniques for such injuries.