Late presenting diaphragmatic hernia: clinical and diagnostic aspects.

Background: The congenital diaphragm hernia presents most frequently in the neonatal period. In a small group of children his defect can be diagnosed beyond the newborn age, during late infancy or early childhood. The late presenting congenital diaphragm hernia is characterized by a variable clinical picture and represents a considerable diagnostic challenge.

Closure of large myelomeningocoele with Ramirez technique.

Introduction: The authors present their 7-year experience in operative closure of large open myelomeningocoele with a technique introduced by Ramirez et al. in 1986. It consists of medial advancement of bilateral bipedicled musculocutanous flap based on the latissimus dorsi and maximus gluteus without any relaxing incisions or skin grafting.