Open AccessA Rare Cause of Dyspnoea: Right-sided Bochdalek Hernia in an Adult
Author(s) -
David Paiva,
Daniela Casanova,
Hélio Martins,
Margarida Cerqueira,
Mariana Formigo,
Olinda Miranda,
Jorge Cotter
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2284-2594
DOI - 10.12890/2020_001531
Subject(s) - bochdalek hernia , medicine , laparotomy , vomiting , surgery , pneumothorax , chest pain , presentation (obstetrics) , abdominal pain , thorax (insect anatomy) , perforation , hernia , hydropneumothorax , abdominal distension , thoracotomy , radiology , congenital diaphragmatic hernia , pregnancy , fetus , materials science , anatomy , biology , metallurgy , punching , genetics
Right-sided Bochdalek hernia (BH) is very rarely diagnosed in adults. It commonly presents with gastrointestinal symptoms (pain, abdominal distension and vomiting). Breathlessness, recurrent chest infections and other pulmonary sequelae can also be present. We report the case of a 92-year-old man with a 3-day history of dyspnoea, fever and thoracic pain and multiple episodes of vomiting. An x-ray was performed, and the diagnosis of a large BH hernia was confirmed by computed tomography of the thorax. The condition may be fatal in cases where the small bowel undergoes necrosis or perforation. An emergent laparotomy was performed, but the patient did not improve clinically and died immediately after the procedure.