HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Peter Kim Douglas J. Mathisen Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Minneci, P. C. Articles by Mathisen, D. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Minneci, P. C. Articles by Mathisen, D. J. Related Collections Diaphragm

Ann Thorac Surg 2004;77:1956-1959
© 2004 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Original article: general thoracic

Foramen of Morgagni hernia: changes in diagnosis and treatment

^a Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
^b Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Accepted for publication December 10, 2003.

^* Address reprint requests to Dr Mathisen, General Thoracic Surgical Unit, Blake 1570, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA
e-mail: dmathisen{at}partners.org

BACKGROUND: Foramen of Morgagni hernias are uncommon diaphragmatic hernias for which there are limited reported data. The purpose of this study is to report a recent case series of foramen of Morgagni hernias in the context of new diagnostic and treatment modalities.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed over a 15-year period, from 1987 to 2001. Twelve patients who had a foramen of Morgagni hernia repaired at our hospital were identified, and data from these patients were collected.

RESULTS: The average age at treatment was 45 years, with 50% of patients being asymptomatic. Radiographic evaluation included computed tomography scans in two thirds of the patients with a 100% sensitivity for diagnosis. All hernias were right-sided, and the most common contents of the hernias were omentum and colon. The transabdominal route was the preferred surgical approach. Thoracoscopy was used in 2 patients to further characterize a mediastinal mass. Two patients underwent laparoscopic repair. Postoperative complications were infrequent, and there were no recurrences during a 6-month to 10-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of highly accurate diagnostic computed tomography scans combined with less invasive surgical techniques utilizing laparoscopy and thoracoscopy has aided in the treatment of foramen of Morgagni hernias over the last 15 years.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. L. Robinson and D. M. Shahian Transthoracic Repair of an Unsuspected Left Foramen of Morgagni Hernia Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2008; 86(5): 1693 - 1695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Turut, G. Demirpolat, E. Bulbuloglu, and M. Yuksel Life-Threatening Vomiting Caused by Large Morgagni Hernia in an Octogenarian Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, June 1, 2008; 16(3): 240 - 241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]