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Right diaphragmatic hernia after liver transplant in pediatrics: A case report and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Lam HwaiDing,
Mejia Juan,
Soltys Kyle A.,
Sindhi Rakesh,
Mazariegos George,
Bond Geoffrey
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatric transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1399-3046
pISSN - 1397-3142
DOI - 10.1111/petr.12052
Subject(s) - medicine , laparotomy , surgery , diaphragmatic hernia , liver transplantation , respiratory distress , diaphragmatic breathing , diaphragm (acoustics) , congenital diaphragmatic hernia , segmental resection , transplantation , hernia , resection , fetus , pathology , pregnancy , physics , alternative medicine , biology , acoustics , loudspeaker , genetics
Diaphragmatic hernias ( DH ) are an unusual complication after pediatric liver transplantation; however, they have been reported with increased frequency in the past few years. DH s are responsible for nearly half of the small bowel obstructions requiring surgical intervention in this patient population. It has been suggested that the use of a left lobe liver graft, surgical trauma, malnourishment, elevated intra‐abdominal pressures, and mTor inhibitors may predispose to development of DH . The use of a segmental graft may increase the recognition of diaphragmatic hernia because the surgically damaged right hemi‐diaphragm often remains exposed to underlying viscera, instead of being covered by the right hepatic lobe. Treatment is surgical reduction, with up to 20% of the patients requiring resection of the herniated intestine. Herein we describe a case of DH after left segmental liver transplant in a two‐ yr‐old boy that presented one month post left lobe split liver transplant with abdominal pain, anorexia, and respiratory distress. Just like in the majority of the reported cases, an urgent laparotomy with primary repair was performed. No resection of the herniated segment of intestine was required. For pediatric patients with otherwise unexplained respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms after a left lateral segment liver transplant, right‐sided diaphragmatic hernias should always be high in the differential diagnosis.