Left Diaphragmatic Hernia Incarceration Secondary to Colonoscopy—A Case Report—

Abstract

A 74-year-old man with a history of right-sided rib fractures and bloody pneumothorax following a vehicular accident 5 years prior to presentation developed left-sided chest pain after colonoscopy. Computed tomography revealed left diaphragmatic hernia incarceration. We performed emergency laparotomy and released the incarcerated intestine. Furthermore, it was difficult to deploy the surgical field ; therefore, we performed thoracotomy and sutured the diaphragm to repair the hernia.

Diaphragmatic hernia may occur after penetrating or blunt trauma to the diaphragm. However, it may easily be missed because it is often masked by concurrent injuries to other organs. Detection of diaphragmatic hernia warrants urgent repair to avoid the risk of incarceration.