Right Congenital Posterolateral Diaphragmatic Hernia

Cha, Seon Wook; Chung, Jae Hee; Song, Young Tack

Abstract

Congenital right posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia is rare. Moreover, cases of delayed presentation are extremely rare. We experienced two cases of right posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia. One case was a 1 day old male neonate with cyanosis. He was diagnosed as a congenital right posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia by chest X-ray and repaired primarily through trans-abdominal approach. There was a 54 cm defective area at the right posterolateral diaphragm. The right lobe of the liver, gall bladder, small intestine and right colon were herniated though the defect into the thoracic cavity. The patient was supported by mechanical ventilation for 1 month and was discharged without complication on the 41st day. The other case was an 11-month male infant with dyspnea, cough and seizure. He was diagnosed with delayed presentation of congenital right posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia by chest X-ray and repaired primarily through transabdominal approach. Almost all of the small intestine and right colon were herniated through a 54 cm sized posterolateral defect in the right diaphragm. He didn't need postoperative ventilatory support and was discharged without complications on the ninth day.