Large-bowel obstruction as a late sequela of retrosternal diaphragmatic hernia

Z Gastroenterol. 2011 Aug;49(8):986-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1245982. Epub 2011 Aug 2.

Abstract

A 37-year-old man with a past history of a fall from height 16 years previously was admitted with acute abdomen. Investigations revealed intestinal obstruction caused by a diaphragmatic hernia. He had an incarcerated omentum and Richter's hernia of the transverse colon secondary to left diaphragmatic hernia leading to colonic ileus. Following resection of the strangulated omentum and reduction of the colon intraabdominally, a surgical repair of the hernia was performed using an abdominal and transthoracic approach. The relatively rare late complication of a left-sided enterothorax with ileus makes this a remarkable case and underlines the need for early surgery to avoid late complications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen, Acute / etiology
  • Adult
  • Colon, Transverse* / diagnostic imaging
  • Colon, Transverse* / surgery
  • Colonic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Colonic Diseases / etiology*
  • Colonic Diseases / surgery*
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / complications*
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / diagnostic imaging
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Obstruction / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Obstruction / etiology*
  • Intestinal Obstruction / surgery*
  • Male
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Effusion / etiology
  • Pleural Effusion / surgery
  • Radiography
  • Thoracotomy