Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2018 | Case report
Post esophagectomy diaphragmatic hernia: a case report of a rare cause of acute respiratory distress
Published in: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery | Issue 1/2018
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Background
Diaphragmatic hernia is frequent among the elderly and is usually associated with mild chronic digestive and respiratory symptoms.
Case presentation
An elderly post-esophagectomy male patient, in the early postoperative period of cardiac surgery, presented with acute respiratory distress. An emergent surgery was performed to reduce a giant diaphragmatic herniation.
Conclusions
An acute transhiatal herniation can cause serious respiratory impairment; surgical repair should be considered in select patients of cardiac surgery.