title: Late presentation of left-sided congenital diaphragmatic (Bochdalek) hernia.
abstract: Two patient with late presentation of Bochdalek hernia are reported. The intraoperative findings strongly suggested a "plugging effect" of the spleen in the diaphragmatic defect, thus protecting for some time against herniation. The initial absence of respiratory symptoms indicates a normal development of the lungs in these cases of late herniation.
mesh_terms: D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000601:surgery; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013537:Sutures