Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia in a child as a complication of ventricular assist device implantation. A case report

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to present a case of an anterior diaphragmatic hernia in a patient after multiple cardiosurgical interventions and heart transplantation. Case presentation: A child with dilated cardiomyopathy diagnosed in the neonatal period underwent heart transplantation at the age of 10 years. When she was 12 years old, she was referred to the Department of Paediatric Surgery and Organ Transplantation of the Children’s Memorial Health Institute for surgical treatment of diaphragmatic hernia detected on echocardiography. Prior to heart transplantation, the patient had required the use of biventricular assist device (EXCOR type) due to progressive cardiac insufficiency. The patient was deemed eligible for surgical treatment and underwent diaphragmatic hernia repair with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patch.

Keywords

• diaphragmatic hernia
• heart transplantation
• ventricular assist device