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Clinical Manifestations of Huge Diaphragmatic Hernias

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Current Concepts in Medical Research and Practice

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((NR,volume 1039))

Abstract

Translocation of abdominal organs into the thoracic cavity may cause dyspnea, heart disorders, and gastric symptoms. Diaphragmatic hernias can cause diagnostic difficulties, since both clinical and radiological symptoms might imitate different disorders. In these cases computed tomography of the chest is the method of choice. The aim of this study was to assess clinical manifestations, risk factors, and prognosis in patients with huge diaphragmatic hernias with displacement of abdominal organs into the thorax, depending on the action taken. We carried out a retrospective study using data of patients hospitalized in the years 2012–2016. Ten patients were qualified for the study (8 women and 2 men). The mean age of the subjects was 86.5 ± 10.5 years. Thirty percent of the hernias were post-traumatic. All of the patients reported cardiovascular or respiratory symptoms. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in half of the patients. Twenty percent of patients underwent surgery with a positive outcome, while 30% of patients, who were not qualified for surgery due to numerous co-morbidities, died. The main risk factors predisposing to the occurrence of large diaphragmatic hernias were the following: old age, female gender, and thoracic cage deformities.

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Conflicts Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest in relation to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, Czerniakowski Hospital in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Jan Lesiński, Tadeusz M. Zielonka, Aleksandra Kaszyńska, Olga Wajtryt, Krystyna Peplińska, Katarzyna Życińska & Kazimierz A. Wardyn

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Warsaw Medical University, 1A Banacha Street, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland

    Tadeusz M. Zielonka, Katarzyna Życińska & Kazimierz A. Wardyn

Authors
  1. Jan Lesiński
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  2. Tadeusz M. Zielonka
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  3. Aleksandra Kaszyńska
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  4. Olga Wajtryt
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  5. Krystyna Peplińska
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  6. Katarzyna Życińska
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  7. Kazimierz A. Wardyn
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Correspondence to Tadeusz M. Zielonka .

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  1. Opole Medical School, Opole, Poland

    Mieczyslaw Pokorski

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Lesiński, J. et al. (2017). Clinical Manifestations of Huge Diaphragmatic Hernias. In: Pokorski, M. (eds) Current Concepts in Medical Research and Practice. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 1039. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2017_49

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