A Case of Delayed Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia Repaired Using Laparoscopy

Abstract

A 38-year-old woman was treated at another hospital for a lung contusion and a right clavicle fracture following a traffic injury seven months ago. She visited our hospital with complaints of abdominal pain and nausea. Based on medical history and CT images, she was diagnosed with left traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. CT findings six days after the injury at another hospital showed slightly torn diaphragm. The patient was judged suitable for surgery and underwent elective laparoscopic left diaphragmatic hernia repair. The gastric fornix, colon, and greater omentum, which had invaginated into the left diaphragm, were pulled out. The hernia orifice was 6 cm. the orifice was sutured and covered with mesh to reinforce the repair. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged four days after the surgery. CT performed one month after the surgery confirmed no recurrence. We report a case of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia diagnosed seven months after the trauma, repaired successfully using laparoscopy.