Successful Laparoscopic Management of Chronic Diaphragmatic Hernia Post Trauma Masquerading As Intestinal Obstruction: A Case Series.

Abstract

A rare and potentially fatal consequence of trauma is diaphragmatic rupture. Since severe concomitant injuries to other organs might obscure the signs and symptoms of acute diaphragmatic trauma, a high index of suspicion is necessary for clinical diagnosis, particularly in the absence of pathognomonic radiographic findings. Many clinical signs may appear years later in chronic situations. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias are managed well with laparoscopic methods.  We report a case series of patients with an atypical presentation of subacute intestinal obstruction (SAIO) who, after further workup, were diagnosed with chronic traumatic diaphragmatic hernias and were successfully managed with laparoscopic hernia repair in our surgical unit.