RUPTURE OF THE DIAPHRAGM IN BLUNT TRAUMA - A SERIES OF 28 CASES

Twenty-eight cases of ruptured diaphragm due to blunt trauma are repor ted, including three with rupture on the right. Most of the patients w ere young men and rupture was an isolated lesion in only 6 patients, a ll others having multiple trauma. One patient died during surgery (3.6 %) and complications, mostly respiratory; occurred in 17 patients (60 .7 %). Mid-term functional digestive and respiratory sequellae were ev aluated. The gravity of ruptured diaphragm is basically related to the severity of the trauma and associated lesions. The diagnosis remains unrecognized in an important number of cases emphasizing the importanc e of repeated chest X-rays.