BMJ Case Rep

. 2021 Jul 13;14(7):e244045. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-244045. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34257130/

Strangulated Morgagni hernia masquerading as an acute coronary syndrome

May Honey Ohn ¹, Jun Rong Ng ², Theviga Neela Mehan ³, Ng Pey Luen ⁴Affiliations expand

• PMID: 34257130
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-244045

Abstract

Morgagni hernia is the rarest type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which can present late in adulthood. Here, we report a case of Morgagni hernia in an elderly woman who presented as an acute coronary syndrome with raised troponin level. X-ray of the chest (CXR) showed air-fluid level in the right lower hemithorax with loss of right diaphragmatic outline and subsequently confirmed strangulated Morgagni hernia with CT. She was treated with emergency laparotomy to reduce the hernia content and surgical repair with mesh done. In conclusion, Troponin can be falsely positive in Morgagni hernia patients, possibly due to strain on the heart by herniated bowel contents. Basic imaging such as a (CXR) is useful in the case of chest pain to rule out the non-cardiac causes. Although ‘time is the myocardium’ in the setting of all cases of chest pain with raised troponin, CXR should be done before treatment that poses bleeding risk and unnecessary delay in laparotomy.

Keywords: gastrointestinal surgery; general surgery; radiology.

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