[Complications of misdiagnosed Bochdalek hernia in adults. Literature review].
OBJECTIVE
To report 3 new cases of complicated Bochdalek hernia (BH) in adulthood and to review the literature about this rare condition.


METHODS
Three adult patients were operated on for a BH undiagnosed until occurrence of acute complication. The first patient, 27 years-old, had small bowel obstruction and the diagnosis of BH, unrecognized on chest X-ray, was established on barium meal and CT scan. The second patient, 38 years-old, had epigastric pain and gastric obstruction: diagnosis of BH, unrecognized at a previous laparotomy, was established on CT scan and barium enema. The third patient, 88 years-old, had respiratory failure and gastric obstruction: diagnosis of BH, unrecognized on chest X-ray, was established on CT scan. The 3 patients were operated on through laparotomy (n = 2) ou thoracotomy (n = 1) with one post-operative death.


CONCLUSIONS
In adulthood, BH can remain asymptomatic for a long time before occurrence of a acute digestive or respiratory complication. Chest X-ray can be normal or misinterpreted. CT scan seems to be the most reliable examination to diagnose BH.


CONCLUSIONS
In adulthood, diagnosis of BH should be evocated in case of respiratory or upper digestive symptoms.
Habib
E
E
Service de chirurgie viscérale et thoracique, hôpital R. Ballanger, 93602 Aulnay-sous-Bois, France.
Bellaïche
G
G
Elhadad
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Complications de la hernie de Bochdalek méconnue de l'adulte. Revue de la littérature.