title: Treatment of Morgagni hernias by transabdominal approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, the thoracic approach has been suggested in the surgical treatment of Morgagni hernias with some reported advantages over abdominal surgery. This manuscript reports the authors' experience with childhood Morgagni hernias repaired via laparotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of five cases of Morgagni hernias were evaluated with respect to age, presentation, operative data, complications, and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of four male and one female patients was 34 months (range 6 months to 8 years). Predominant presenting symptoms were related to the respiratory system. The diagnoses were made by posterior-anterior and lateral chest X-rays and confirmed by barium enema contrast radiographs. Associated anomalies were detected in three cases. All cases were managed by abdominal approach through upper midline incisions reducing the herniated viscera (transverse colon in all and including omentum in one patient) and excising the hernia sac which was present in all patients. The postoperative period was uneventful in this series and no recurrence was detected in an average of four years of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transabdominal approach is appropriate in the surgical correction of paediatric Morgagni hernias.
authors: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Gazi University Medical Faculty, Turkey. kamez@yahoo.com
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Sönmez
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Karabulut
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Türkyilmaz
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Demiroğullari
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Ozen
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Afşarlar
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Başaklar
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Kale
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome