Delayed herniation of intra-abdominal contents after blunt right-sided diaphragm rupture.
Right diaphragmatic hernia is a rare injury (0.25%-1%) after blunt abdominal trauma. The diagnosis may be delayed and achieved years after the trauma. We currently report a case of a 48-year-old man who presented to the emergency department at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, demonstrating signs of herniation of the right diaphragm. The herniation was confirmed using a chest radiograph. The patient reported falling 3 years before the current evaluation and was symptom-free before arrival in the emergency department. The diagnosis was further confirmed through thoracoabdominal computed tomography. The diaphragmatic hernia was subsequently repaired via abdominal approach. For patients with a history of prior thoracoabdominal trauma with complaints of new abdominal pain, a delayed diaphragmatic hernia should be considered.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Min-Po
MP
Ho
Yuan-Hui
YH
Wu
Kaung-Chau
KC
Tsai
Jiann-Ming
JM
Wu
Wing-Keung
WK
Cheung
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000058:Accidental Falls; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging