Robotic Repair of Acute Traumatic Diaphragmatic Injury From an Abdominal Approach: A Case Report

Abstract

Traumatic diaphragmatic injury is a rare condition with a significant mortality risk and may cause a herniation of an intraperitoneal organ into the pleural space. In the acute phase, traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (TDH) may be repaired with laparotomy or thoracotomy and is often associated with multiple concurrent injuries. This case report highlights a rare clinical scenario of blunt traumatic DH in a 62-year-old male with approximately seven centimeters of stomach herniating into the left pleural space, repaired with minimally invasive surgery. This was done via a transabdominal approach with robotic-assisted laparoscopic hernia repair and institution of biologic mesh and represents an important opportunity that potentially reduces the morbidity risk involved with open surgeries.