Question
My cousin started experiencing chest tightness and pain six months ago. Initially, he ignored the symptoms but decided to get a medical check-up at the hospital for safety reasons. The CT scan revealed that he had a diaphragmatic hernia. In the absence of obvious symptoms, does he need treatment?
Answer
Once diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia, it is generally recommended to undergo surgery, as severe hernias may lead to internal organs entering the chest cavity. Modern laparoscopic surgery offers many advantages, including the use of patches for repair. Postoperative precautions include reducing food intake, focusing on high-protein, low-fat diets, avoiding high-calorie foods, minimizing post-meal lying down and eating before bedtime; sleeping with the head elevated and feet lower; avoiding behaviors that increase intra-abdominal pressure such as bending over and wearing tight clothing; overweight individuals should lose weight. It is recommended to undergo surgery promptly!