SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF A LARGE EVENTRATION OF THE LEFT DIAPHRAGM

Total eventration of the left diaphragm is a rare condition in adults. It is now generally accepted that surgery is indicated only in cases of distinct complaints involving abdominal or thoracic organs which ca n be related to this pathological condition. The accepted routine surg ical procedure for treatment of the eventration is plication of the di aphragm without incision or excision of the pathologically changed par t of the diaphragm. In rare cases, reinforcement of the very thin memb rane with some foreign material may be necessary. We describe an adult patient with extensive eventration and severe symptoms in whom we use d a special technique for restoration of the diaphragm with very good results.