Thoracoscopic diaphragm plication

Abstract

Diaphragmatic paralysis with subsequent eventration and respiratory compromise has a huge impact on the quality of life of affected patients. Many different surgical approaches for correcting this problem have been described in the past, using both transabdominal and transthoracic pathways. Either way, since the procedure in general requires suturing of the diaphragm, minimally invasive techniques have only been adopted very slowly and most thoracic surgeons nowadays still use a minithoracotomy, even when adopting a video-assisted approach. We have developed a safe and simple completely thoracoscopic technique for diaphragmatic plication, and in this video tutorial we demonstrate our technique.

Keywords: Diaphragm plication; Minimally invasive procedure; VATS.