title: Congenital Morgagni's hernia in infants and children.
abstract: Morgagni's hernia is an uncommon type of diaphragmatic hernia in the pediatric age group. Out of 52 children with different types of congenital diaphragmatic hernia that we have treated, 5 (9.6%) had Morgagni's hernia. There were 2 infants and 3 children including one with Down's syndrome. All suffered from repeated attacks of chest infection, and only after a chest X-ray was the diagnosis of Morgagni's hernia suspected. In 2 cases this appeared as an opacity in the anterior mediastinum adjacent to the pericardium; diagnosis was confirmed by barium enema in one and a CT-scan in the other. The remaining 3 cases showed anterior herniation of bowel loops on chest X-ray which was bilateral in one. This bilaterality was confirmed pre-operatively by CT scan. Associated anomalies were present in all cases, including 2 with malrotation. All patients were treated surgically via a transabdominal approach. Our study shows a relative high frequency of Morgagni's hernia in our patients and, although late-presenting Morgagni hernias are relatively benign, it can cause significant morbidity. This calls for early diagnosis and early referral for surgery. Chest X-ray is to be strongly advocated in children with repeated attacks of chest infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tawam Hospital, Al-Ain, Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jacobsz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Al-Khouder
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Al-Salem
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D016896:Treatment Outcome