title: Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture: a rare cause of postoperative shortness of breath.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shortness of breath is a common symptom reported by patients after gynecologic procedures. Delayed traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is a rare cause of shortness of breath.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report describes the diagnosis and management of a patient with a delayed presentation of a ruptured right hemidiaphragm after a laparotomy for a pelvic mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although rare, delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture should be considered in patients with a history of blunt chest or abdominal trauma as a possible cause of shortness of breath in the postoperative setting.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA. jmestes21@mac.com
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Estes
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Straughn
authors.forename: Larry C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kilgore
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000293:injuries*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012421:Rupture