title: Laparoscopic repair of a traumatic intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia is a rare injury. We present a case of an intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia from blunt trauma. In this report we will review the current literature and also describe the first report of a primary laparoscopic repair of the defect.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 38-year-old unrestrained male passenger had blunt chest and abdominal trauma from a motor vehicle collision. Two months later, on a computed tomography scan, he was found to have an intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia. The defect was repaired primarily through a laparoscopic approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms of intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia are chest pain, upper abdominal pain, dysphagia, and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography is the most useful diagnostic test to define the defect. Even when the injury is diagnosed late, laparoscopy can be used for primary and patch repair.
authors: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: SreyRam
authors: S
authors: Kuy
authors: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. jjuern@mcw.edu.
authors: Jeremy
authors: J
authors: Juern
authors: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Weigelt
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D006549:Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*