Congenital diaphragmatic eventration in children

Diaphragmatic hernia and eventration represent the most common disorders of the diaphragm. Congenital diaphragmatic eventration is a relatively rare pathology characterized by the partial or whole bulging of one or both hemidiaphragms without interruption of its integrity. The aim of this study was to analyze the data of etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and methods of surgery in case of diaphragmatic eventration. Diaphragmatic eventration is divided into congenital and acquired, total and partial. Congenital diaphragmatic eventration may be an isolated malformation or associated with chromosomal disorders, other congenital malformations, or be part of various congenital syndromes and developed due to the intrauterine infection. Clinical presentation varied from an asymptomatic course to a life-threatening distress syndrome. Chest radiographs, ultrasonography, computed and magnetic resonance tomography are applied for the eventration diagnosis. The different methods (open and mini-invasive) and approaches (thoracotomy and laparotomy) for the management of diaphragmatic eventration were analyzed. Conclusions. Diaphragmatic eventration in children can cause severe respiratory disorders, which determines the necessity for surgery. In asymptomatic children, follow-up observation is possible, but in case of the presence of respiratory symptoms, the surgery is indicated. The choice of surgery (open or mini-invasive) depends on surgeons’ skills and the localization of the eventration. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.