[Reconstruction of the diaphragm with a pericardial flap after radical pleuropneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma (author's transl)].

Pleuropneunomectomy with resection of the diaphragm only offers acceptable therapeutic results in patients with multifocal malignant mesothelioma of the pleura. Diaphragmatic replacement on the right side can be satisfactorily achieved by fixation of the liver to the thoracic wall. On the left side many homologous and heterologous tissues and prosthetic adjungts have been suggested with varying success. This report describes technique and results in two patients where the broad pedicled left hemipericard was successfully used to replace the resected left diaphragm.