DOI: 10.36347/sasjs.2023.v09i09.004

Pages: 728-734

Introduction: the objective of the work was to determine the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic aspects of traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures (RTD) in adults at the University Hospital of Brazzaville (CHUB). Patients and Methods: descriptive retrospective study, conducted in the multipurpose surgery and digestive surgery departments of the CHUB, between January 2018 and December 2022 (5 years), on patients operated for RTD. Results: we collected 20 cases or 5.55% of hospitalized thoraco-abdominal trauma. There were 17 men (85%) and 3 women (15%) for a sex ratio of 5.67. The mean age was 39.11 ± 6.91 years. The most common reasons for consultation were thoraco-abdominal pain (60%). The average consultation time was 7 months and 9 days. Road accidents (50%) were the main etiology. Seven patients (35%) developed occlusive syndrome and seven patients (35%) experienced respiratory distress. Radiological signs were the absence of the left diaphragmatic cupola and intrathoracic hydro-aeric levels. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography confirmed diaphragmatic breaches. Twelve patients (60%) were operated on urgently. Left midaxillary thoracotomy was performed in 16 patients (80%). The mean diameter of the diaphragmatic breccias was 9.1 ± 2cm. The most herniated loops were the omentum and stomach (81.8%). All cures were done by raffia. Immediate postoperative follow-up was simple for 16 patients (80%) and complicated for 4 patients (20%). The average length of hospital stay was 9.6 days. Conclusion: at CHUB, left RTD is common in young adult males. Diagnosis remains late and treatment results are satisfactory.