Use of a Silastic sheet for widening the abdominal cavity in the surgical treatment of diaphragmatic hernia.

Five newborns were operated on in our department by using a Silastic prosthesis to widen the abdominal cavity. The surprising postoperative course that prevented the need of recurrent surgical interventions is described. From the fifth day, some opacity appeared beneath the Silastic sheet. The wound began to contract and during 1 month all the layers of the abdominal wall regenerated. The Silastic sheet was rejected and the skin closed spontaneously. We obtained the desired result, ie, to close the abdomen and all its layers without stretching the abdominal wall, and without respiratory assistance or temporary closure of the skin and subsequent intervention for completion of the repair. We believe that in these four patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, this method prevented increased pressure in the abdomen and the need for respiratory assistance.