title: Two acute pediatric abdominal catastrophes from strangulated left paraduodenal hernias.
abstract: We present two cases of catastrophic intestinal obstruction from to strangulation of a left paraduodenal hernia (PDH). PDH is the most common internal hernia. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential because of the high morbidity and mortality associated with strangulation. Early involvement of the surgical team without an overly extensive evaluation in the emergency department is important if this diagnostic suspicion exists. PDH should also be considered when there is a history of chronic, intermittent abdominal pain of unclear cause. To our knowledge, these cases are the first described cases of sudden demise within a few hours of onset of symptoms of a left PDH.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pershad
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frye
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D006547:Hernia / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male