A Novel Technique of Posterolateral Suturing in Thoracoscopic Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair

Abstract

Background Closure of the posterolateral defect in some cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) can be difficult. Percutaneous transcostal suturing is often helpful to create a complete, watertight closure of the diaphragm. A challenge with the technique is passing the needle out the same tract that it entered so that no skin is caught when the knots are laid down into the subcutaneous tissue. This report describes a novel technique using a Tuohy needle to percutaneously suture the posterolateral defect during thoracoscopic repair of CDH.

Case We report a case of a 6-week-old infant who presented with a CDH and ipsilateral intrathoracic kidney that was repaired using thoracoscopic approach. The posterolateral part of the defect was repaired by percutaneous transcostal suturing and extracorporeal knot tying. To assure correct placement of the sutures and knots, a Tuohy needle was used to guide the suture around the rib and out through the same subcutaneous tract. The total operative time was 145 minutes and there were no perioperative complications. The patient was followed up for 3 months, during which there was no recurrence.

Conclusion Our percutaneous Tuohy technique for closure of the posterolateral part of CDH enables a secure, rapid, and tensionless repair.

Keywords

congenital diaphragmatic hernia - thoracoscopy - Tuohy needle - suturing technique

Background

Closure of the posterolateral defect in some cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) can be difficult. Percutaneous transcostal suturing is often helpful to create a complete, watertight closure of the diaphragm.[1] A challenge with the technique is passing the needle out the same tract that it entered so that no skin is caught when the knots are laid down into the subcutaneous tissue.[2] This report describes a novel technique using a Tuohy needle to percutaneously suture the posterolateral defect during thoracoscopic repair of CDH.

Case

We report a case of a 6-week-old infant who presented with a CDH and ipsilateral intrathoracic kidney ([Fig. 1]) that was repaired using a thoracoscopic approach. The posterolateral part of the defects was repaired by percutaneous transcostal suturing and extracorporeal knot tying. To assure correct placement of the sutures and knots, a Tuohy needle was used to guide the suture around the rib and out through the same subcutaneous tract ([Figs. 2] and [3]). The details of this maneuver are presented in [Video 1].

Video 1 Thoracoscopic percutaneous pericostal suturing to close the lateral defect of congenital diaphragmatic hernia using a Tuohy needle.

Fig. 1 Chest radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination revealed congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in the left side and ipsilateral intrathoracic kidney.

Fig. 2 To assure correct placement of the sutures and knots, a Tuohy needle was used to guide the suture around the rib and out through the same subcutaneous tract.

Fig. 3 View of the needle passing out through the same cutaneous incision site guided by Tuohy needle.

Results

The total operative time was 145 minutes and there were no perioperative complications. The patient was followed up for 3 months, during which there was no recurrence and she did well.

Conclusion

Our percutaneous Tuohy technique for closure of the posterolateral part of CDH enables a secure, rapid, and tensionless repair.

Conflict of Interests

None.

• References

• 1 Li B, Chen BW, Wang QS, Wang BY. Thoracoscopic repair of diaphragmatic hernia in infants: a new modification of the technique. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2016; 26 (06) 519-523
• 2 Akkoyun I, Keçecioğlu M. A new, easy, and safe suturing technique for laparoscopic repair of Morgagni hernias. J Pediatr Surg 2012; 47 (08) 1626-1628