Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia: case report

• Published in: Medwave Vol. 13; no. 2; p. e5636
• Main Authors: Serra Valdés, Miguel Angel, Achon Polhamus, Mario, Menéndez Villa, Maria de Lourdes, Carnesoltas Suarez, Liudmila
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medwave Estudios Limitada 01-03-2013
• Subjects: ACT; diagnosis; Hernia for the diaphragm ruptures; toraco-abdominal trauma
• ISSN: 0717-6384; 0717-6384
• DOI: 10.5867/medwave.2013.02.5636

Introduction. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias occur after blunt or penetrating trauma. The case reported in this article is an incidental and unusual diagnosis in clinical practice. Case. We report a woman with a history of thoraco-abdominal trauma from a road accident that occurred 30 years ago. In the chest X-ray we found a radioopacity in the right lung base resulting from a respiratory infection. The image persisted in spite of effective treatment for the underlying respiratory condition, which made us suspect a diaphragmatic hernia corroborated by computed tomography. Discussion. A high level of suspicion is essential for the initial evaluation of patients with blunt or penetrating thoraco-abdominal trauma. Conclusions. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias constitute a clinical challenge both for diagnosis and surgical treatment.