[The Bochdalek hernia in the adult: case report and review of the literature]

Abstract

The Bochdalek hernia, the most common diaphragmatic hernia, except the hiatus hernia, is located on the posterolateral side of this muscle. This pathology is generally diagnosed in children; in fact only 105 such cases occurring in adults have been described in the literature. In these cases, surgical intervention is made necessary by the severity of potential complications. The Author's attention was drawn to a woman of 60 years of age, affected by pituitary nanism, who suffered from a left hand Bochdalek hernia. The symptomatology, characterised by abdominal pains and constipation had been presented for about one year. The computerised tomography confirmed the hernia of abdominal viscera in the thorax cavity. The intervention was conduced via the abdomen: the hernia were reduced, the hernial hole were closed with a double strata and the muscular plane reinforced with a synthetic prosthesis (dual mesh). The postoperative process was regular and the patient dismissed on 11th postoperative day.