[Acute abdomen in diagnostic delay of (congenital and traumatic) diaphragmatic hernia in childhood]

Abstract

The article reports on three patients with an acute abdomen based on late-presenting diaphragmatic hernia past the neonatal period. Two patients showed a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, the third an acquired diaphragmatic hernia caused by rupture. Diagnosis was made by conventional X-rays, partly with contrast studies. In the literature, the late-presenting diaphragmatic hernia varies between 5% and 31%. Infants present mainly respiratory symptoms, older children mostly gastrointestinal complaints. Radiologic misdiagnosis varies between 12% and 70%.