To explore the application value of laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication in adults with diaphragmatic eventration.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 10 adult patients with diaphragmatic eventration treated at The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2018 to June 2024. All patients underwent laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication which included standardized trocar placement, diaphragmatic incision, plication and suture, mesh reinforcement, and postoperative management. Patients were followed up for 1 year to observe symptom relief, pulmonary function improvement, and recurrence rate.

All 10 patients successfully completed the surgery, with an operative time ranging from 90 to 180 minutes (mean, 130 minutes), intraoperative blood loss of 15-40 ml, and postoperative hospital stay of 7-9 days. The pulmonary function indicators (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second) significantly improved by 25%-40%. No anatomical recurrence was observed during the 1-year follow-up, and diaphragmatic position remained stable. However, one obese patient (body mass index 32 kg/m²) still experienced mild dyspnea after activity postoperatively.

Laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment option that significantly improves clinical symptoms and pulmonary function in patients with adult diaphragmatic eventration, with no recurrence observed in short-term follow-up. This technique provides a new strategy for the treatment of diaphragmatic eventration. However, due to the small sample size, lack of a control group, and short follow-up duration, the long-term efficacy and safety of mesh application need to be further verified through large-sample, long-term follow-up studies.