TRAUMATIC INTRAPERICARDIAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA

Traumatic rupture of the pericardium with dislocation of the heart

Isolated rupture of the parietal pericardium with herniation of the heart may occur following closed injury of the chest. Such a case is presented here. Clinical suspicion should be aroused by the presence of low cardiac output with localizing signs of cardiac displacement. X-ray films of the chest may reveal important clues and provide an indication for cardiac angiography, which may be diagnostic.

Traumatic pericardiophrenic hernia: a report of 3 cases

Three cases of traumatic intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia are reported. The defect was limited to the central tendon of the diaphragm in all 3 cases with herniation of the transverse colon (n = 2) or small bowel (n = 1) into the pericardial sac. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in all 3, using a dilute barium meal in 2 patients, and from the chest X-ray examination alone in 1. Successful operative repair was performed. Previous reports suggest that barium studies of the gastrointestinal tract are the most accurate method of diagnosis but should be used with caution as they may precipitate cardiac tamponade through distension of herniated bowel.

Pericardiodiaphragmatic hernia

Twenty-seven reported cases of pericardial diaphragmatic hernia are reviewed and another case is added. This entity may be congenital or traumatic in origin, the latter being more frequent at a ratio of 2:1. All patients except one were male and the mean age at diagnosis was 40 years. The patients were usually symptomatic, the most frequent complaints being of cardiac or respiratory origin. Pneumoperitoneum may be diagnostic although chest roentgenograms and contrast studies may suggest the diagnosis. Computed axial tomography and echocardiography may prove useful in the future. We believe the anterior abdominal approach is preferable to the transthoracic approach in reducing the hernia and repairing the defect because it affords better exposure and easier accessibility to other intraabdominal disease and can easily be converted into a median sternotomy if needed. The stomach and transverse colon became herniated most frequently and in only three cases was a sac found. The defect involves the central leaflet of the diaphragm and primary repair generally results in a good prognosis.

Diagnostic pneumoperitoneum in traumatic rupture of the right diaphragm

The diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture following blunt trauma is difficult and often delayed. Introduced pneumoperitoneum can provide important diagnostic information. Its use is illustrated in a case of massive rupture of the right diaphragm where diagnostic pneumoperitoneum was valuable in distinguishing recent rupture from preexisting pathology.

Blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm

Blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm must be suspected in all patients with massive trauma and especially in those whose chest roentgenogram reveals an abnormal or obscured diaphragmatic shadow. Regular reevaluation is most important. A diagnostic pneumoperitoneum is the most accurate preoperative test available. Transthoracic approach is the operation of choice.

Diaphragmatic rupture with cardiac tamponade

Intrapericardial herniation of abdominal viscera following blunt abdominal trauma is rare. We have been able to find only nine reported cases. Six of these were finally diagnosed after a long delay, ranging from a year to 23 years. Three were diagnosed within three months of the original injury, but in these patients, the investigations were initiated following an abnormal chest skiagram. We wish to report a unique case in which a traumatic intrapericardial hernia presented as an acute cardiac tamponade within 48 hours of injury.

Pericardial rupture from blunt chest trauma

Borrie, J. and Lichter, I. (1974).Thorax, 29, 329-337. Pericardial rupture from blunt chest trauma. Pericardial rupture may occur in two distinct anatomical sites, namely the diaphragmatic pericardium and the pleuropericardium. They may be combined. The problems in each type are different.

In ruptured diaphragmatic pericardium the rent may involve the pericardial cavity alone, or may extend into one or both adjoining pleural cavities. Upward herniation of abdominal viscera can occur, with or without strangulation. The presence of a pericardial rent may be suggested by diagnostic pneumoperitoneum, and chest films showing displaced abdominal viscera; its extent may be fully revealed only by thoracotomy. If the rent involves only the diaphragmatic pericardium without lateral spread into a pleural cavity, the presence of a rent may be revealed only by exploratory thoracotomy with pericardiotomy.

In ruptured pleuropericardium the rent is usually vertical and may occur on either side, more usually on the left. It may be recognized on chest films in its early stages by the presence of intrapericardial air arising from associated lung trauma. There is serious risk of heart dislocation with or without strangulation. The defect must be surgically repaired and, because of pericardial retraction, it may require a fabric patch. Teflon fabric has proved to be a long-term satisfactory pericardial substitute.

Two cases of each type of pericardial rupture are described and illustrate these points.

Traumatic herniation into the pericardial sac

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