Right-sided Bochdalek hernia obstructing in an adult: case report and review of the literature

Combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic repair of adult right-sided Bochdalek hernia with massive liver prolapse: A case report

BACKGROUND

A Bochdalek hernia (BH) is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia that often develops in the neonatal period. BH typically occurs on the left side of the diaphragm. A right-sided BH in an adult is rare.

CASE SUMMARY

A 45-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow seen on chest radiography during a medical check-up. A chest radiograph showed elevation of the right hemidiaphragm. Computed tomography showed prolapse of multiple intraabdominal organs into the right thoracic cavity, corresponding to a right-sided BH. The herniated contents included the stomach, transverse colon, and left lobe of the liver. The left lobe of the liver was enlarged, particularly the medial segment. Laparoscopic surgery was performed. However, the left lobe of the liver was completely trapped in the thoracic cavity. Therefore, thoracoscopic manipulation had to be performed to return the liver to the abdominal cavity. The hernia was repaired with interrupted nonabsorbable sutures and reinforced with mesh.

CONCLUSION

Combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery was successfully performed for right-sided BH with massive liver prolapse and abnormal liver morphology.

Case reports: a variety of clinical presentations and long-term evolution of Bochdalek hernias

Bochdalek hernias are the most common congenital diaphragmatic hernias, followed by Morgagni hernias. The failure of closure of the pleuroperitoneal membrane results in a posterolateral foramen, which can remain silent until adulthood. They remain a rare pathology with nearly a hundred cases published. Its clinical presentation is variable, making its diagnosis challenging for clinicians. Additionally, its symptoms are not necessarily representative of the content of the hernia. Its management is balanced between the abdominal and the thoracic approaches. However, no guidelines or algorithms are available to help surgeons in the decision-making process. We report here four consecutive cases of symptomatic Bochdalek hernias. Each case has a singular presentation, and we share how they were approached at our institution. In particular, this series shows no reoccurrence in 10+ years of follow-up in two cases and 20+ in one case, underlying the importance of surgical management when Bochdalek hernias are symptomatic.

Intrathoracic kidney: A rare presentation of ectopic kidney

The thoracic kidney is the rarest form of renal ectopia. Furthermore, it is usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally. It is seen as a mass in the posterior mediastinum or juxta-diaphragmatic on chest radiography. A computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging is usually needed for a definitive diagnosis. The thoracic kidney typically exits the retroperitoneal space through the foramen of Bochdalek.

Case Report: Adult Right-Sided Bochdalek Hernia Complicated by Intrathoracic Bowel Perforation

Right-sided Bochdalek hernia is a mostly congenital condition of the diaphragm caused by a persistence of the pleuroperitoneal cavity and a rare disease in adults. As it often presents as an emergent situation, urgent diagnostics and surgical intervention are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality rates. Choosing the right surgical approach (abdominal, thoracic, or a combination of both) can be very challenging for clinicians. Here, we report a case of a 40-year-old woman, who presented with severe abdominal pain and tachypnoea. Imaging revealed a right-sided Bochdalek hernia. Emergency laparotomy was performed followed by reduction of hernia content, right-sided hemicolectomy, and side-to-side anastomosis from the ileum to the transverse colon due to intestinal ischemia and intrathoracic bowel perforation. The post-operative course was complicated by a pleural empyema. Therefore, the patient underwent thoracotomy. One year after surgical repair the patient had no recurrence. Here, we discuss feasible approaches for the surgical management of complicated Bochdalek hernias.

Combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgical repair of Bochdalek hernia in an adult: a case report

BACKGROUND

Bochdalek hernia is a rare disease in adults. Diaphragmatic hernia in adults has been repaired using minimally invasive surgery through laparoscopy or thoracoscopy. However, the literature regarding the combined use of laparoscopy and thoracoscopy for the repair of Bochdalek hernia is limited.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 26-year-old man diagnosed with Bochdalek hernia was managed through combined abdominal and thoracic endoscopic surgery. On laparoscopy, the omentum prolapsed into the left thoracic cavity through the posterolateral area of the left diaphragm. On thoracoscopy, no adhesions of the omentum were seen in the thoracic cavity. The omentum was drawn back to the abdominal cavity, and a 4 × 3-cm hernial orifice was identified. The hernia orifice was repaired through simple closure with sutures laparoscopically. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful with no recurrences within the first year post-surgery.

CONCLUSION

Combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method for Bochdalek hernial repair in adults.

[Bochdalek hernia with intrathoracic liver herniation in an adult patient treated with robotic surgery: a case report]

Une patiente de 45 ans reçue en consultation pour des douleurs isolées de l´hypochondre droit irradiant dans le dos, évoluant depuis plusieurs années. Elle n´avait pas d´antécédents médicaux. L'examen physique était sans particularités. La tomodensitométrie retrouvait une hernie diaphragmatique droite (hernie de Bochdalek) avec issue d´une partie du foie dans le thorax. La patiente a eu une cure herniaire par voie robotique. Les suites opératoires ont été simples. La patiente est actuellement à un an post-opératoire sans récidive. La hernie de Bochdalek avec issue hépatique en intrathoracique chez un adulte est une entité rare qui peut être traitée par voie robotique.

A systematic review on diagnostics and surgical treatment of adult right-sided Bochdalek hernias and presentation of the current management pathway

Purpose

Bochdalek hernia is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The incidence in adults is estimated around 0.17%. Right-sided hernias are much more seldom than left-sided ones because of faster closure of the right pleuroperitoneal canal and the protective effect of the liver. Due to its rarity, there have been no large prospective or retrospective studies following great need for evidence-based diagnostics and treatment strategies. In this systematic review, we evaluated the current evidence of diagnostics, treatment, and follow-up of adult right-sided Bochdalek hernias.

Methods

According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines a systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane library from 2004 to January 2021. The literature search included all studies with non-traumatic right-sided Bochdalek hernias. Literature on left- or both-sided, pregnancy-associated, pediatric, and other types of hernias were explicitly excluded. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed.

Results

Database search identified 401 records. After eligibility screening 41 studies describing 44 cases of right-sided non-traumatic Bochdalek hernias in adulthood were included for final analysis. Based upon the systematic literature review, the current diagnostic, therapeutic, and follow-up management pathway for this rare surgical emergency is presented.

Conclusion

This systematic review underlined that most studies investigating management of adult non-traumatic right-sided Bochdalek hernias are of moderate to low methodological quality. Hernias tend to occur more frequently in middle-aged and older women presenting with abdominal pain and dyspnea. A rapid and accurate diagnosis following surgical repair and regular follow-up is mandatory. High-quality studies focusing on the management of this rare entity are urgently needed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10029-021-02445-1.

Laparoscopic repair of a Bochdalek hernia in an elderly patient: a case report with a review from 1999 to 2019 in Japan

BACKGROUND

A Bochdalek hernia (BH) is a congenital defect of the diaphragm that generally presents in the newborn as life-threatening cardiorespiratory distress. In contrast, the diagnosis of a BH in adults is rare. Surgical repair for adult BH is recommended, but the optimal surgical method remains unclear.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 75-year-old woman presented with progressive dyspnea and back pain, and a diagnosis of BH was made based on chest X-ray and computed tomography. Laparoscopic evaluation revealed a defect in the left posterior attachment of the diaphragm, and a left-sided BH without hernia sac was diagnosed. Parts of the stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas, and spleen had prolapsed into the left thoracic cavity, without ischemic change, and these herniated organs were reduced to the abdominal cavity. A direct closure of the hernia orifice was possible by the laparoscopic suture technique using a mesh reinforcement. The patient made an uneventful recovery, and no recurrence was found in the 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

A recently published study reviewing detailed cases of repair of adult BH from 1999 to 2019 identified 96 cases, including the present case. The number of reports on laparoscopic and/or thoracoscopic surgery for BH in adults has recently increased, and the approach for repairing BH should be selected carefully on a case-by-case basis.

Strangulated right-sided diaphragmatic hernia presenting and treated as lung empyema: beware of the differential diagnosis

A 78-year-old man with no surgical history or recent trauma presented to the emergency department with sudden onset right-sided chest pain and dyspnoea. He was admitted under the physicians for investigations and was subsequently diagnosed with empyema of the right thorax. After no improvement with intravenous antibiotics, a chest drain was inserted; no pus was drained. He worsened clinically; a repeated CT scan demonstrated an incarcerated loop of small bowel within the right thoracic cavity secondary to a diaphragmatic hernia (DH). The patient had emergency surgery to remove necrotic small bowel and to lavage the thorax. Strangulated DH should be considered as a differential diagnosis where presentation is unusual and empyema does not improve after initial management.

Bochdalek hernia in an adult: two case reports and a review of perioperative cardiopulmonary complications

Background

Bochdalek hernia in an adult is very rare and often needs an immediate surgical repair for the herniation. Although its etiology and surgical techniques have frequently been reported, perioperative complications, especially cardiopulmonary problems, remain unknown. We reported two adults with Bochdalek hernia and reviewed the published literatures with a focus on these issues.

Case presentation

We experienced two adult cases of Bochdalek hernia with gastrointestinal strangulation. One case had massive herniation of the stomach, colon, spleen, and pancreas in the left chest, causing repeated vomiting. The other had a right-side hernia with strangulation of the colon. We successfully performed emergency repairs of these diaphragmatic hernias without any postoperative complications.

Conclusions

Our literature review revealed that life-threatening cardiopulmonary complications, such as empyema or cardiac arrest caused by the tamponade effect of the herniated viscera, sometimes occurred in patients with Bochdalek hernia. These complications were found in Bochdalek hernia with gastrointestinal strangulation.

[Perforative appendicitis in the left-sided false diaphragmal hernia]

Abnormal localization of the appendix in hernial sac occurs in 2-4% of cases. Appendix is often found in inguinal and femoral hernias. Localization of the appendix in diaphragmatic hernia is described as a casuistic case. Case report of successful surgical treatment of a patient with perforated appendicitis in the left diaphragmatic hernia is presented.

Surgical management of symptomatic right-sided Bochdalek hernias in adults: when is a minimally invasive approach appropriate?

BACKGROUND

Right-sided Bochdalek hernias are uncommon congenital diaphragmatic hernias that can be challenging to manage because they can contain bowel, omentum, kidney or liver.

METHODS

We describe our experience at a single centre and integrate this with all reported cases in the literature to evaluate how this rare problem has been managed and when a minimally invasive approach is appropriate.

RESULTS

A total of 31 patients were identified, four patients from our institution and 27 case reports from the literature. A minimally invasive approach was utilized in 15 of 31 patients (including two of four at our institution) and was more common if the operation was performed in the elective setting (10/12 versus 4/19). If a bowel resection was required, an open approach was more common (9/17 versus 1/14). The commonest method of repair was a primary suture repair (18/31), and the mesh was used in 13 cases, particularly in the elective setting (9/12 versus 4/19).

CONCLUSION

Right-sided Bochdalek hernias are an uncommon and challenging problem. These hernias can contain bowel, kidney and even liver but can still be successfully repaired using minimally invasive techniques, especially in the elective setting and when an emergency bowel resection is not required.

Standard and Variable Key Anatomical Structures for Safe Surgical Repair of Bochdalek Hernia: A Rare Case Series

Bochdalek hernia (BH) is a developmental defect in the posterolateral diaphragm, allowing herniation of abdominal contents into the thorax causing mechanical compression of the thoracic viscera. This type of hernia is rare in adults, usually asymptomatic and may be diagnosed incidentally in a routine chest X-ray. The aim of the present retrospective study was to highlight the standard and important anatomical structures that are crucial to safe surgical repair of BH during laparotomy and thoracotomy by the placement of mesh graft, along with a short review of the existing evidence. Records from 2005 to 2017 were reviewed to identify the patients with adult BH who underwent mesh repair through thoracotomy or laparotomy and evaluate the possible complications and results. Six patients were operated for adult BH with the above-mentioned techniques. Four underwent laparotomy and two were treated through thoracotomy. Mild fever was reported only in one patient. There was significant improvement in the symptoms of all patients and no recurrence was reported in the subsequent follow-up period. Surgical treatment is strongly indicated for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Surgeons' in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of the diaphragm will ensure better outcomes for the patients.

Chronic pancreatitis with Bochdalek hernia causing right-sided pleural effusion in a previously asymptomatic adult

A 41-year-old man with a medical history of chronic back pain, seizure disorder, alcohol and tobacco abuse presented with acute shortness of breath. Chest X-ray showed a large right-sided pleural effusion. Pleural fluid analysis was significant for an elevated amylase level, suggestive of pleural effusion secondary to pancreatitis. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) revealed a persistent right-sided pleural effusion in connection with a right pararenal space fluid collection via a Bochdalek hernia. An endoscopic ultrasound found hyperechoic strands and foci, and pancreatic parenchyma consistent with chronic pancreatitis, as well as a pseudocyst in the pancreatic head. A chest tube was ultimately placed to continuously drain the pleural effusion. The patient was discharged and was referred to gastroenterology for outpatient follow-up. This case illustrates a rare presentation of chronic pancreatitis with a Bochdalek hernia as a right-sided pleural effusion in a patient who was previously asymptomatic.

Thoracoscopic approach to congenital diaphragmatic hernias in adults: Southampton approach and review of the literature

Congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH) are likely to present in early postnatal or infancy and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to associated pulmonary hypoplasia, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. Symptomatic adult congenital Bochdalek hernia, on the other hand, is extremely rare with a prevalence of 0.17-6% of all diaphragmatic hernias. They present with recurrent abdominal pain and shortness of breath. Acute presentations could be life threatening especially if there is incarcerated or threatened bowel in the chest. Repair of symptomatic Bochdalek hernia is recommended in the adult population. We present two cases of right and left symptomatic Bochdalek hernias in adults, encountered over 15 years of practice in a tertiary referral centre in the UK. We discuss their presentation and surgical management and review the literature of similar cases treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Thoracic surgeons are increasingly becoming involved in these cases, which used to be the domain of upper gastrointestinal surgeons. A synthetic patch may be required to close the defect, therefore; the thoracic surgeon must be familiar with such techniques. The recent expansion in video format publishing in the internet and social media has revolutionized the way knowledge and how-to-do-it expertise is distributed around the world. It has the advantage of reaching far more viewer than subscription paper-printed format journals and has a rising significance in encouraging thoracic surgeons to do things they were not used to do. Finally; Symptomatic Bochdalek hernia, and possibly Morgagni hernia in the adult population could be safely repaired by VATS with good and lasting results.

Incarcerated Bochdalek hernia causing bowel obstruction in an adult male patient

Bochdalek hernias occur as a result of congenital fusion failure of the posterolateral muscular portion of the diaphragm derived from the embryonic pleuroperitoneal membrane. The vast majority of symptomatic Bochdalek hernias are diagnosed during the neonatal period. Congenital diaphragmatic hernias showing symptoms in adulthood are rare. We report the case of a 28-year-old man who presented with subacute bowel obstruction, later diagnosed to have a left-sided incarcerated Bochdalek hernia containing an ischaemic splenic flexure and the distal transverse colon. During laparotomy, he underwent primary repair of the diaphragmatic defect and an extended right hemicolectomy with ileocolic anastomosis. The patient made a good recovery and is well at three months following surgery. This case highlights the need for surgeons to be vigilant about rare types of congenital internal hernias as they may become symptomatic later in life.

Bochdalek Hernia in an Adult with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Bochdalek hernia (BH) can be a life-threatening condition in infants. Approximately 85.3% of newborns with a BH are immediately at high risk and have a high mortality rate due to respiratory insufficiency [Kocakusak et al.: Hernia 2005;9: 284–287]. However, BH is almost asymptomatic in adults and discovered only incidentally [Wilkins et al.: Clin Imaging 1994;18: 224–229]. Complicated BH in adults might present with visceral incarceration and lethal complications. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding and acute pancreatitis are rarely reported in the literature as complications of BH in adults. Here we report the case of a 42-year-old male who presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and acute pancreatitis. He was found to have abdominal visceral organ herniation to the posterior right thoracic cavity. His diagnosis was achieved early and with a close follow-up, we succeeded in stabilizing the patient's condition. Then he was subjected to reconstructive thoracotomy for hernial repair and restoring abdominal viscera.

Emergency surgery due to diaphragmatic hernia: case series and review

Background

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a congenital abnormality, rare in adults with a frequency of 0.17–6%. Diaphragmatic rupture is an infrequent consequence of trauma, occurring in about 5% of severe closed thoraco-abdominal injuries. Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic cases to serious respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis depends on anamnesis, clinical signs and radiological investigations.

Methods

From May 2013 to June 2016, six cases (four females, two males; mean age 58 years) of diaphragmatic hernia were admitted to our Academic Department of General Surgery with respiratory and abdominal symptoms. Chest X-ray, barium studies and CT scan were performed.

Results

Case 1 presented left diaphragmatic hernia containing transverse and descending colon. Case 2 showed left CDH which allowed passage of stomach, spleen and colon. Case 3 and 6 showed stomach in left hemithorax. Case 4 presented left diaphragmatic hernia which allowed passage of the spleen, left lobe of liver and transverse colon. Case 5 had stomach and spleen herniated into the chest. Emergency surgery was always performed. The hernia contents were reduced and defect was closed with primary repair or mesh. In all cases, post-operative courses were uneventful.

Conclusion

Overlapping abdominal and respiratory symptoms lead to diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia, in patients with or without an history of trauma. Chest X-ray, CT scan and barium studies should be done to evaluate diaphragmatic defect, size, location and contents. Emergency surgical approach is mandatory reducing morbidity and mortality.

Right-sided Bochdalek hernia in an elderly patient: a case review of adult Bochdalek hernias from 1982 to 2015 in Japan

Case

An 89‐year‐old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea following abdominal pain and vomiting. According to chest computed tomography findings, a diagnosis of acute respiratory failure due to right‐sided Bochdalek hernia was made.

Outcome

Emergency laparotomy revealed that a bowel loop from the terminal ileum to the transverse colon had herniated into the right thoracic cavity through the foramen of Bochdalek. The herniated organs were reduced to the abdominal cavity and the foramen was repaired by direct suturing. The patient had good recovery and was discharged 78 days later.

Conclusion

Bochdalek hernias in elderly patients are rare, but may be complicated by strangulation of the herniated organ. This should be taken into account by acute care physicians. To prevent this fatal complication, regardless of symptoms, surgical treatment may be essential as soon as a diagnosis of adult Bochdalek hernia is made.

Right posterior diaphragmatic hernia (Bochdalek) with liver involvement and alteration of hepatic outflow in adult: a case report

Introduction

Posterior right diaphragmatic hernia is rare in newborn patients but when present, is accompanied by high mortality. Pulmonary hypoplasia seems to be the main cause of death but the presence of liver involvement remains one of the reasons for poor prognosis even when intrauterine surgery is performed.

Case Description

In this article, we will present a rare case that was diagnosed by chance in a 65-year old adult presenting with an adenocarcinoma of the rectosigmoid junction and a right Bochdalek hernia with liver herniation and modification of the hepatic vein outflow with a natural right to left shunt.

Discussion

Diaphragmatic repair was performed on the patient with a mash and simultaneous colorectal resection. Intraoperatively, the exceptional natural modification of the hepatic outflow and alteration of the caval system was evident.

Conclusion

This case report represent an extremely rare anatomic variation and could be useful to give new important information on the evolution that occur in foetal life.

A case of right-sided Bochdalek hernia incidentally diagnosed in a gastric cancer patient

Background

Bochdalek hernia (BH) is generally congenital, presenting with respiratory distress. However, this pathology is rarely detected in adults. Some adult cases of BH present with symptoms attributed to the hernia, but incidental detection of BH is increasing among asymptomatic adults due to advances in imaging modalities. This report presents the management of incidental BH patients detected in the preoperative period of gastric cancer.

Case presentation

An asymptomatic 76-year-old woman was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer during follow-up after radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer. Computed tomography (CT) was performed to exclude metastatic gastric cancer, incidentally detecting right-sided BH. We planned distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection for gastric cancer and simultaneous repair of BH using a laparoscopic approach. We performed laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer and investigated the right-sided BH to assess whether repair during surgery was warranted. Herniation of the liver into the right hemithorax was observed, but was followed-up without surgical repair because the right hepatic lobe was adherent to the remnant right anterior hemidiaphragm and covered the huge defect in the right hemidiaphragm. No intra- or postoperative pneumothorax was observed during pneumoperitoneum.

Conclusion

Regardless of symptoms, repair of adult BH is generally recommended to prevent visceral incarceration. However, BH in asymptomatic adults appears to be more common than previously reported in the literature. Surgeons need to consider the management of incidental BH encountered during thoracic or abdominal surgery.

Laparoscopic Repair of Bochdalek Diaphragmatic Hernia in Adults

Bochdalek hernia (BH) is an uncommon form of diaphragmatic hernia. The rarity of this hernia and its nonspecific presentation leads to delay in the diagnosis, with the potential risk of complications. This review summarizes the relevant aspects of its presentation and management, based on the present evidence in the literature. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE for articles in English on BH in adults. All case reports and series from the period after 1955 till January 2015 were included. A total of 180 articles comprising 368 cases were studied. The mean age of these patients was 51 years (range 15-90 years) with a male preponderance of 57% (211/368). Significantly, 6.5% of patients were above 70 years, with 3.5% of these being above 80 years. The majority of the hernias were on the left side (63%), with right-sided hernias and bilateral occurring in 27% and 10%, respectively. Precipitating factors were noted in 24%, with 5.3% of them being pregnant. Congenital anomalies were seen in 11%. The presenting symptoms included abdominal (62%), respiratory (40%), obstructive (vomiting/abdominal distension; 36%), strangulation (26%); 14% of them were asymptomatic (detected incidentally). In the 184 patients who underwent surgical intervention, the surgical approach involved laparotomy in 74 (40.27%), thoracotomy in 50 (27.7%), combined thoracoabdominal approach in 27 (14.6%), laparoscopy in 23 (12.5%), and thoracoscopic repair in 9 (4.89%). An overall recurrence rate of 1.6% was noted. Among these patients who underwent laparoscopic repair, 82% underwent elective procedure; 66% underwent primary repair, with 61% requiring interposition of mesh or reenforcement with or without primary repair. The overall mortality was 2.7%. Therefore, BH should form one of the differential diagnoses in patients who present with simultaneous abdominal and chest symptoms. Minimal access surgery offers a good alternative with short hospital stay and is associated with minimum morbidity and mortality.

Complicated adult right-sided Bochdalek hernia with Chilaiditi's syndrome: a case report

An extremely rare adult case that underwent surgery for ileus caused by Bochdalek hernia associated with Chilaiditi’s syndrome is presented. A 65-year-old woman complaining of upper abdominal pain presented to our hospital. Abdominal plain radiography showed increased intestinal gas, and computed tomography (CT) showed the transverse colon located above the right lobe of the liver, representing Chilaiditi’s sign. She was diagnosed as having ileus and treated with decompression therapy by a nasoenteric tube. After hospitalization, the patient developed dyspnea, and CT showed intestinal herniation into the right thoracic cavity. She was diagnosed as having strangulated ileus caused by Bochdalek hernia. An emergent laparotomy was performed, and it showed a hole of 5 cm in diameter at the right hemi-diaphragm. The transverse colon was incarcerated through the hole, it was pulled back to the abdominal cavity, and a right hemicolectomy was performed because of necrotic changes. A small part of the liver was also herniated into the right thoracic cavity, and it was returned to the abdominal cavity. The defect in the diaphragm was closed by direct suture. Although the patient developed an abscess in the thoracic cavity postoperatively, she improved with antibiotic therapy and was discharged 2 months after the operation.

An atypical case of right-sided bochdalek hernia in an adult

Bochdalek hernias are usually congenital in nature and normally present after birth. However, in rare cases, these hernias are present in adulthood. We report an unusual case of a posttraumatic right-sided Bochdalek hernia found incidentally in an adult and treated successfully with conservative management.

Right-sided Bochdalek hernia causing septic ureteric obstruction. Percutaneous treatment with placement of a nephroureteral double pigtail

We report a case of an 86-year-old female patient who presented with a septic, right ureteric obstruction, caused by a symptomatic Bochdalek hernia. The patient was initially managed with percutaneous nephrostomy and final treatment was achieved by placement of an external-internal nephroureteral double pigtail.

Radiological diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in 17th century Korean mummy

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect of the diaphragm resulting in pulmonary sequelae that threaten the lives of infants. In computed tomography (CT) images of a 17th century middle-aged male mummy (the Andong mummy), we observed that the abdominal contents had protruded into the right thoracic cavity through the diaphragmatic defect, accompanied by a mediastinal shift to the left. On autopsy, the defect in the right posterolateral aspect of the diaphragm was reconfirmed, as was the herniation of the abdominal organs. The herniated contents included the right lobe of the liver, the pyloric part of the stomach, a part of the greater omentum, and the right colic flexure connecting the superior part of the ascending colon and the right part of the transverse colon. Taking our CT and autopsy results together, this case was diagnosed as the Bochdalek-type CDH. Herein we make the first ever report of a CT-assisted diagnosis of a pre-modern historical case of CDH. Our results show the promising utility of this modality in investigations of mummified human remains archaeologically obtained.

Laparoscopic repair of a late-presenting Bochdalek diaphragmatic hernia with acute gastric volvulus

An otherwise healthy 17-year-old boy presented to the paediatric emergency department with acute severe epigastric pain. An admission abdominal radiograph demonstrated gastric dilation, associated with an elevated left hemidiaphragm. Subsequent barium contrast imaging confirmed the diagnosis of organoaxial acute gastric volvulus (AGV). Emergent exploratory laparoscopy revealed AGV with migration of the stomach, spleen, pancreatic tail, splenic flexure, left kidney and adrenal through a left-sided Bochdalek diaphragmatic hernia. Following careful mobilisation of the displaced structures, a mesh closure of the diaphragmatic defect was performed. The patient's postoperative chest radiograph was unremarkable, and he was discharged on the sixth postoperative day after an uneventful recovery. At 2 months the patient was well and asymptomatic, with normal barium contrast imaging results.

Laparoscopic repair of a Bochdalek hernia with incarcerated bowel during pregnancy: report of a case

A Bochdalek hernia is a rare type of diaphragmatic defect, generally presenting in early childhood with acute signs of cardiorespiratory distress. We herein report a case of acute abdomen in a pregnant patient with pain increasing when lying on her right side. Laparoscopic evaluation revealed a right-sided Bochdalek hernia with incarcerated bowel. A successful reduction was possible, and laparoscopic repair appears to be a safe and feasible technique for the repair of these hernias.

Laparoscopic repair of right sided bochdalek hernia - a case report

Right-sided Bochdalek hernia in adults is a very rare clinical entity. A case of a 50-year-old female patient is reported, who presented with long history of intermittent breathlessness and right-sided thoracoabdominal pain. The hernia was managed laparoscopically. Contents were colon, omentum, and right kidney. It was successfully repaired using a polypropylene mesh.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: an unusual cause of obstructive jaundice

Congenital diaphragmatic hernias in adults are exceedingly rare. They have been reported to cause dyspnoea, gastric reflux and intestinal obstruction. We present the case of a young woman with obstructive jaundice secondary to a Bochdalek hernia of the right hemidiaphragm. We discuss the aetiologies, presentation, investigation and treatment of the disorder, and make recommendations on the management.

A late presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia misdiagnosed as spontaneous pneumothorax

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is described as (1) failure of diaphragmatic closure at development, (2) presence of herniated abdominal contents into chest and (3) pulmonary hypoplasia. Usually, pleural space is drained urgently when there is respiratory distress and radiological appearance of mediastinal shift. We present a case of a 5-month-old baby, diagnosed as tension pneumothorax and treated with chest drain insertion. CDH was the intraoperative diagnosis.

Intrathoracic caecal perforation presenting as dyspnea

Introduction. Bochdalek hernia is a congenital defect of the diaphragm that is usually diagnosed in the neonatal period and incidentally in asymptomatic adults. Small bowel incarceration in a right-sided Bochdalek hernia is exceptional for an adult. Case Presentation. A 54-year-old woman was admitted for acute dyspnea, tachycardia, hypotension, and fever. Five days before, she had been experiencing an episode of diffuse abdominal pain. The admission chest X-ray was interpreted as right pleural effusion and pneumothorax with left mediastinal shift. Chest tube drainage was purulent. The thoracoabdominal CT examination suspected an intestinal incarceration through a right diaphragmatic defect. At laparotomy, a right-sided Bochdalek hernia was confirmed with a complete necrosis of the incarcerated caecum. Ileocaecal resection was performed, but the patient died from delayed septic complications. Conclusion. Intrathoracic perforation of the caecum is a rare occurrence; delayed diagnosis due to misleading initial symptoms may lead to severe complications and poor prognosis.

Laparoscopic dual mesh repair of a diaphragmatic hernia of Bochdalek in a symptomatic elderly patient

Bochdalek hernia is a congenital posterolateral diaphragmatic defect. It is usually diagnosed in newborns and children; the mortality rate is high due to further congenital anomalies such as pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. In adulthood, the diagnosis is often incidental, while sometimes it is related to gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms, or to herniated viscera complications. Thus, surgical treatment is advocated. We herein report a case of an 86-year-old woman with dyspnea and dysphagia. After the diagnosis by barium enema and CT scan of the herniated stomach and the greater omentum through a left side foramen of Bochdalek, she underwent a successful laparoscopic dual mesh repair and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day.

Bochdalek hernia with obstructive uropathy

Bochdalek hernias are postero-medial diaphragmatic defects that usually contain peritoneal fat and often remain asymptomatic. We present a unique case in which involvement of the adjacent ureter in the hernia defect resulted in obstructive uropathy.

Right-sided Bochdalek hernia in an adult: a case report

Introduction

Bochdalek hernia is a type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia that typically presents in childhood - the clinical manifestation of symptoms and diagnosis in adults is extremely rare. There are fewer than 20 cases of right-sided Bochdalek hernia reported in adults in the literature.

Case presentation

We review a case of a 38-year-old woman with a right-sided Bochdalek hernia who was experiencing abdominal pain and pleural effusion. The diagnosis of Bochdalek hernia was made by chest X-ray and computed tomography. The right lobe of the liver and flexura hepatica of the colon were herniated into the thorax cavity. The hernia was treated via thoracotomy assisted with laparoscopy and she made an uneventful recovery.

Conclusion

We report a rare case of a right-sided Bochdalek hernia for which our patient was treated successfully. Even though rare, this disorder should be recognised, examined and treated appropriately to avoid complications.

Caecal perforation with faecal peritonitis - unusual presentation of Bochdalek hernia in an adult: a case report and review of literature

The improper fusion of the postero-lateral foramen of the diaphragm was first described by Bochdalek in 1848. The incidence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia varies from1:2000 to 1:5000 live births and Bochdalek hernias (BH) account for 75 to 85% of these. Although it is a well-known entity in neonates, it is occasionally discovered incidentally in adult patients. Until now, a total of around 100 cases of occult asymptomatic Bochdalek hernia have been reported. The symptomatic cases are encountered more rarely. Colon necrosis among the symptomatic cases was reported in some reports. We discuss the present case since we believe it to be, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of a Bochdalek hernia in an adult presenting with caecal perforation and faecal peritonitis and review the published literature about this rare condition.