User:Mr. Ibrahem/Diaphragmatic rupture

Diaphragmatic rupture, also known as diaphragmatic injury, is a tear of the diaphragm, the muscle across the bottom of the ribcage, which is involved in breathing. Symptoms include chest and abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and decreased lung sounds. Complications may include diaphragmatic herniation of abdominal contents, after which bowel strangulation may occur.

Most commonly, acquired ruptures result from physical trauma. It can result from penetrating injury (60%) such as stabbings or blunt injury (40%) such as motor vehicle collisions. In about 80% of cases the left side is involved. Diagnostic techniques may include X-ray, computed tomography, or exploratory surgery. However; signs may not show on X-ray or CT scan or appear similar to other conditions.

When a tear is discovered, surgery is generally needed to repair it. This includes in cases that may have originally been missed. The injury may be approached via the abdomen or the chest depending on the presumed associated injuries. A nasogastric tube may be placed to decompress the stomach. There are often other injuries and outcome depends more on associated injuries than on the diaphragmatic injury itself.

Diaphragmatic rupture is uncommon. In people who have experienced trauma, it occurs in under 1%. Males are more commonly affected than females. The risk of death is 4% for cases involving a penetrating injury and 15% for blunt injury. The condition has been described since at least the 16th century by Ambroise Paré.