Diaphragmatic hernias in children

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15574/SP.2026.1(153).5165

Keywords:

diaphragmatic hernias in children, thoracic cage, spinal deformity, diaphragm

Abstract

Diaphragmatic hernias in children, both congenital and acquired, remain one of the most pressing problems in neonatal and pediatric surgery due to high morbidity, difficulty in diagnostic challenges, and significant mortality rates.

Aim - to analyze and systematize of modern scientific data on epidemiology, pathogenetic mechanisms, clinical and diagnostic characteristics, treatment methods and prognosis of both congenital and acquired diaphragmatic hernias in the pediatric population.

This work is based on a thorough systematic analysis of scientific literature published between 2015 and 2025, using major international electronic databases - Scopus, PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar, as well as national resources and registries. Diaphragmatic hernias in children constitute a significant challenge in pediatric surgery, characterized by a significant prevalence, difficulty in timely diagnosis and high mortality. Congenital and acquired forms of this pathology involve different developmental mechanisms, clinical manifestations and approaches to treatment, which necessitates a comprehensive and individualized approach that accounts for the anatomical and age-related characteristics of the diaphragm in children. In general, modern methods of diagnosis, intensive care and surgical techniques significantly reduce the risk of adverse outcomes in children with diaphragmatic hernias, and long-term interdisciplinary rehabilitation and medical supervision can substantially improve the quality of life of patients in the long term.

Conclusions. Modern prenatal and postnatal imaging techniques, such as ultrasound screening, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, have significantly improved early diagnosis, which is a key factor in selecting the optimal treatment strategy and determining the prognosis Surgical intervention remains the primary method for repairing diaphragmatic defects, while the use of modern surgical techniques, innovative materials for diaphragmatic reconstruction, and intensive postoperative therapy contribute to a lower incidence of complications and improved patient survival.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Published

2026-02-27