title: Transternal repair of a giant Morgagni hernia causing cardiac tamponade in a patient with coexisting severe aortic valve stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foramen of Morgagni hernias have traditionally been repaired by laparotomy, laparoscopy or even thoracoscopy. However, the trans-sternal approach should be used when these rare hernias coexist with other cardiac surgical diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 74 year-old symptomatic male with severe aortic valve stenosis and global respiratory failure due to a giant Morgagni hernia causing additionally cardiac tamponade. The patient underwent simultaneous repair of the hernia defect and aortic valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass. The hernia was repaired through the sternotomy approach, without opening of its content and during cardiopulmonary reperfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morgagni hernia can rarely accompany cardiac surgical pathologies. The trans-sternal approach for its management is as effective as other popular reconstructive procedures, unless viscera strangulation and necrosis are suspected. If severe compressive effects to the heart dominate the patient's clinical presentation correction during the cardiopulmonary reperfusion period is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: 1st Cardiac Surgery Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nenekidis
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anagnostakou
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zisis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prokakis
authors.forename: Efstratios N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Koletsis
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Apostolakis
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dedeilias
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed