Barbed Sutures in Thoracoscopic Eventration Repair

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Diaphragmatic eventration is an abnormal ballooning of the diaphragm cephalad causing physiologic embarrassment.1 Plication of the diaphragm is a tried and true method of increasing intrathoracic volume, thus allowing for better lung expansion and growth.2 Many methods have been described since the introduction of thoracoscopic plication of the diaphragm, signaling two things: (1) the difficulty of the task and (2) lack of one clearly superior method. Barbed sutures offer a method of true plication without the difficulty of intracorporial tying under tension. In addition, this method could decrease the time and complexity of the operation during which the patient is being ventilated on one lung, helping to limit barotrauma in preemies. The video demonstrates the use of barbed sutures to plicate a right diaphragmatic eventration. Materials and Methods: The patient was a former 31-week postmenstrual age male baby. He was 6 weeks old and weighed 2.2 kg at the time of the procedure. His...