Massive left diaphragmatic separation and rupture due to coughing during an asthma exacerbation.
We report a case of herniation of abdominal contents into the left hemithorax in a patient hospitalized with an acute exacerbation of asthma accompanied by paroxysms of coughing. There was no history of trauma. We believe this is the first reported case of diaphragmatic rupture complicating an asthma exacerbation. We review clinical features, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of diaphragmatic rupture in its most common setting, trauma, and discuss its occasional "spontaneous" occurrence.
Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1054, USA.
N
N
Kallay
L
L
Crim
D P
DP
Dunagan
P V
PV
Kavanagh
W
W
Meredith
E F
EF
Haponik
D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications*; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000473:pathology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007366:Intercostal Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000209:etiology; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000150:complications*