Delayed enterothorax and hepatothorax due to missed right-sided traumatic diaphragmatic rupture

Am J Emerg Med. 2012 Jan;30(1):263.e7-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2010.11.016. Epub 2011 Jan 3.

Abstract

Traumatic diaphragma ruptures (DRs) are an unusual condition after blunt thoracoabdominal trauma, and there are some difficulties in the diagnosis, in the absence of the additional life-threatening injuries. Right-sided injuries are less frequent than left-sided injuries and may be missed easily. Intrathoracic herniation of abdominal organs is an uncommon condition for right-sided DR. Particularly, to our knowledge, progressive hepatothorax and enterothorax that develop over years are a very rare presentation of DR. Herein, we present a case of progressive thoracic herniation of the abdominal organs, diagnosed 22 years after the initial trauma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / complications
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / diagnosis*
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / pathology
  • Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intestine, Small / pathology*
  • Intestine, Small / surgery
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / complications
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / diagnosis*