Ayse PARLAK, Arif Nuri GURPINAR
Journal of Clinical Trials and Experimental Investigations - 2026;5(1):0-0
Objective: We report the long-term effectiveness of the double purse-string plication technique by evaluating postoperative chest X-rays. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 24 patients diagnosed with diaphragmatic eventration who underwent the double purse-string plication technique between April 2012 and December 2024. Postoperative outcomes and recurrence were evaluated using chest X-rays during a 5-year follow-up period. Results: In the 20 patients, the female-to-male ratio was 1:3, and the median age was 12.5 months (range, 6 months to 17 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 4.77+/- 2.35 years. A significant decrease of approximately 1.8 intercostal space levels was observed in the diaphragm level from the preoperative period to the postoperative 1st month. In the following years, no significant elevation was observed in the intercostal level of the corrected elevated diaphragm. The median percentage ratio between the normal and corrected diaphragmatic levels showed a progressive decrease over time: 42.26% preoperatively, 12.84% at postoperative 1st month, 7.99% at postoperative 1st year, and 4.71% at postoperative 5th year (p<0.001). Conclusion: The double purse-string plication technique offers an effective, durable, and minimally invasive option for the treatment of diaphragmatic eventration. Our long-term data show stable radiological correction and sustained symptomatic improvement.
