Ann Med Surg (Lond)

. 2025 Feb 11;87(2):991-993.

 doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002779. eCollection 2025 Feb. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40110315/

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia presenting as tension hydropneumothorax: surgical dilemma

Jayalaxmi Shripati Aihole ¹

Affiliations Expand

• PMID: 40110315
• PMCID: PMC11918643
• DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002779

Abstract

Introduction: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) most commonly seen on the left side, presenting usually in neonates and infants with respiratory distress.

Importance: CDH presenting as tension hydropneumothorax requiring urgent intercostal chest tube drainage (ICD) and subsequently inducing the injury to the herniated bowel and lung, is not an uncommon event, rarely reported in toddlers as well as its management.

Case presentation: Two such rare cases of CDH presenting with tension hydropneumothorax requiring ICD insertion and their consequences have been discussed here.

Clinical discussion: CDH can present later in life due to consequent recurrent bronchopneumonia and failure to thrive.

Conclusion: Clinical history and clinical judgement can only aid the surgeon in avoiding such confusing clinical scenarios.

Keywords: congenital diaphragmatic hernia; gastric perforation; intercostal drainage tube; surgical repair.

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.