Open AccessTraumatic diaphragmatic hernia complicating pregnancy
Author(s) -
Brightson Mutseyekwa,
Mordecai Sachikonye,
Lameck Chiwaka,
Netsai C. Changata
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
east and central african journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2073-9990
pISSN - 1024-297X
DOI - 10.4314/ecajs.v23i2.7
Subject(s) - medicine , exploratory laparotomy , pregnancy , diaphragmatic hernia , laparotomy , bowel obstruction , transverse colon , diaphragmatic breathing , presentation (obstetrics) , surgery , hernia , pathology , genetics , alternative medicine , biology
Intestinal obstruction in pregnancy is rare but has a high maternal and foetal mortality. We present a case of 32-year-old patient who presented in her 2nd trimester of pregnancy with signs and symptoms of large bowel obstruction. An exploratory laparotomy revealed that the transverse colon had herniated through a diaphragmatic tear as the cause of the intestinal obstruction. The delays in presentation and diagnostic dilemmas associated with intestinal obstruction in pregnancy are manifested in this case. Keywords: intestinal obstruction; pregnancy; diaphragmatic hernia