An unusual case of late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Abstract

Late-presenting congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is an unusual case. It rarely appears apart from the neonate. We report the case of a 3-month-old male infant presented with a history of recurrent chest infections and breathlessness for the past 4 days. Examination revealed the signs of respiratory distress in the form of subtitles and tachypnea; there was no air entry on the left side but bowel sounds were audible better heart sounds could be auscultated to right. A chest X-ray showed a suspicion of left-sided CDH. Subsequently, the patient was transferred to operation theater farminent. Laparotomy surgery was done under general anesthesia. Note intraoperatively bowel and spleen were reduced from the thoracic cavity and delivered through this posterolateral defect. Following insertion of a chest tube and repositioning the herniated organs back into abdominal cavity, closure was performed. The patient recovered uneventfully with an improvement of the postoperative radiograph. With time, he improved and was able to tolerate oral feeds.

Keywords

• congenital diaphragmatic hernia
• infant
• subcoastal retractions