Late congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A Case Report

Authors

Abstract

IntroductionCongenital diaphragmatic hernia is a progression into chest of abdominal organs depends on diaphragmatic defect during fetal development. Prevalence is 1/2500-3000 of live births. Case PresentationThe most common seen hernia is Bochdalek (90%). In this presentation, late congenital diaphragmatic hernia is described in a patient treatment and follow-up process. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital malformation manifested by diaphragmatic hernia, pulmonary hypoplasia and abdominal organ changes. The most common accepted theory of etiology is a problem in the closure of pleuroperitoneal canal. Left-sided hernias which are seen after puberty is rare. Our case is one of them. ConclusionIn conclusion, although the frequency of late congenital diaphragmatic hernia is 0.17–12%, it is a clinical situation that may be encountered in intensive care practice. It must therefore be kept in mind.

Keywords

Introduction

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a progression of abdominal organs into chest depends on diaphramatic defect during fetal development. It was described firstly by Victor Alexander Bochdalek in 1867.¹ It is a rare malformation of lung and incidence is 1 / 2500-3000 in live births. It is mostly characterized by cardiac and respiratory symptoms in neonatal period. However, some of them may remain asymptomatic until adulthood. Prevalence of diaphragmatic hernia identified in adult is 0.17-12% as approximately.² Bochdalek hernia is the most frequent form which 90% of them is located posterolateral. However, Morgagni hernia (1-5%) and esophageal hernia (1-5%) can be seen. Late period Bochdalek hernias are usually right-sided, left sided ones are rare.^3,4 In this study, surgical treatment and postoperative intensive care process are shared in a rare case of late congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Case Presentation

18-year-old man who has long been available exertional dyspnea and chest pain admitted to thoracic surgery clinic. Patient included not feature personal and family history had been no alcohol consumption, no smoking history, no previous trauma or no accident history. In the physical examination of patient admitted first time to doctors for complaints, it were determined that decreased respiratory sound in middle and lower lobe of left lung, heard heart sound in the right and heard bowel sounds in left middle and lower zones of chest. Patient’s complete blood count and biochemical tests were revealed no abnormality. In blood gas at room condition, pH was 7.34, P02 was 93 mmHg, PCO2 was 29.5 mmHg and SO₂ was 99.4%.In posteroanterior chest x-ray, nonhomogeneous opacity extending parabolic along pleura in middle and lower lobe of left lung was detected (Figure 1). In thoracic computer tomography (CT), patient detected bowel loops displaced posterolaterally in left hemithorax (Figure 2) was diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and operated by thoracic surgery clinic. In operation included also general surgeons, intra abdominal organs were placed in the abdomen and diaphragmatic defect was repaired with thoracotomy and laparotomy simultaneously. Patient intubated state was admitted to intensive care unit after surgery. Patient in intensive care unit admission was intubated, connected to mechanical ventilator and under sedation. Heart rate 92/min, respiratory rate 11/min blood pressure 127/89 mmHg and fever 36.8º C were measured. In the respiratory examination, it was taken as decreased breath sounds at middle and bottom of left lung. Left chest tube was available. Cardiovascular system examination was normal. In gastrointestinal tract examination, abdomen was distended and hard, bowel sounds were absent. Approximately 85 kg of the patient’s mechanical ventilator settings SIMV FiO2 25%, PEEP: 8, Tidal volume: 500ml and frequency: 10/min were performed. In blood gas, pH was 7:40 PO2 117 mmHg PCO2 was 38.4 mmHg and SO₂ was 99.3%.In order to avoid increasing the pressure on the abdomen after surgery and to help lung expansion, patient was fooled up with intibation. To patients with drains, applied thoracotomy and laparotomy, antibiotic therapy was started by infectious disease clinic.Intra-abdominal pressure of 14 cm H₂O was measured. During his time in intensive care, daily measurement values did not exceed 15 cm H₂O. Analgesia and sedation was administered At patient’s first day postoperative chest radiograph control, Left lung was not fully expanded to as hypoplastic but the functions were found to be good. At the same time, it was the persistence of pneumothorax on the left side of the chest (Figure 3). Patient being awake after ending sedation, stable vital signs, arterial blood gas measurements with optimal limit was extubated on postoperative 24th hours.In blood gas after extubation, pH was 7.38, PO2 was 98 mmHg, PCO2 was 40 mmHg, SO₂ was 98%. Afterwards postural drainage, breathing exercises and intermittent low pressure non-invasive mechanical ventilation therapy were applied to patient. Application were set as PEEP value 5-6cm H₂O, PEEP above 10-12cm H₂O. During this treatments, intra-abdominal pressure values remained between 14-15 cm H₂O. Patient bowel sounds began to be heard and gas output which occured was fed with water regime on second postoperative day. Patient good condition with bloog gas values in optimal limit on third postoperative day was transferred to thoracic surgery service for continuation of follow up. The issue was not observed in patient’s service follow up, on fifth postoperative day chest tube and abdominal drains were pulled. Patient with enough lung expansion (Figure 4) was discharged on the seventh day.

Discussion

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital malformation manifested with trio of diaphragmatic hernia, pulmonary hypoplasia and displacement of abdominal organs. Although there are several theories on the etiology, the most widely accepted theory is problem of the closure of pleuroperitoneal channel.⁵ It is usually in the form of Bochdalek hernia and lef sided display. However the delayed emergence of Bochdalek hernia occurs with defect from right side generally due to the effect of closing the liver. The existence of liver at right side allows the partial closure of defect. Left sided hernias after puberty are rare.⁴ Our case is one of these rare group.14% of congenital diaphragmatic hernia was asymptomatic, in symptomatic patients chest pain (69%), intestinal obstruction (39%) and pulmonary symptoms (wheezing, recurrent pneumonia, dyspnea, cough) (37%) are most common symptoms observed. Some factors such as chronic constipation, strong straining, severe cough, physical exertion, strenuous exercise, trauma and pregnancy could cause to become symptomatic or asymptomatic cases.⁶ On physical examination, respiratory distress, absence of breath sounds in herniation zone, bowel sounds in lung fieds and displacement of heart sounds are guiding. In our case, there were all physical findings indicated. To diagnosis, respectively, chest and abdominal x-ray, barium enema, thoracic computer tomography (most common) magnetic resonance, ultrasound, laparoscopy/laparotomy (used in advanced stage) are used.⁷ In our case, diagnosis was made by physical examination, chest x-ray and thoracic computer tomography.In bochdalek hernia, left hernia sac has mostly omentum and retroperitoneal structures. intestine, spleen, liveri pancreas nd kidneys can be found. Colon containing hernias are rare.⁴ In our case, most of abdominal organs including most of small intestine, ascending colon, cecum and appendix is located on left hemithorax. Surgery should be planned without delay especially when large hernias accompained abdominal organs are seen due to high risk of complications.⁸ The main aims of surgery are to place herniated organs to abdomen, to open hernia sac, and to close defect of diaphragm. For this purpose, thoracotomy, thoracoscopy, laparotomy, laparoscopy and if necessary a combination of these methods can be applied.^9,10 In our case, operation began with thoracotomy but laparotomy was included in operation with general surgery team due to large amount of abdominal organs and they could not be placed in the abdomen. Intra-abdominal hypertension, can be seen in patients with intra-abdominal pressure rises above 12 mmHg.¹¹ Our patient intra-abdominal pressure is measured as 14 mmHg, entering Grade 1 Group according to the 2013 Consensus Statement of the Abdominal Compartment Society (WSACS),¹¹ Postoperative follow-up is required to be done carefully to avoid this situation included renal, cardiac, pulmonary and inflammtory complications. In our case management, especially we cared about the lungs of peak inspiratory pressure monitoring during mechanical ventilation to the expansion, the provision of adequate analgesia, bowel sounds and gas - if necessary by following the stool out made the gastric decompression, urine output monitoring and abdominal pressure measuring. In these cases, the postoperative intensive care unit stay varies depending on factors such as patient age, comorbidities, postoperative complications, the presence of pulmonary hypoplasia. In the postoperative period, patient should be intubated while monitored to facilitate lung expansion. However, there is no study on how much it should be the optimum time. This period shall be determined in accordance with clinical follow-up of intensive care physicians considering the factors mentioned above. Time should be kept as short as possible in terms of ventilator-associated pneumonia.¹² In our case, due to young patient, lack of co-morbid condition and the development of postoperative complications, sufficient to ensure early detection of lung expansion, after 24 hours postoperatively extubation was deemed appropriate. There is no clear information about the selection of mechanical ventilation in the postoperative follow-up which mechanical ventilation mode or used in non-invasive post-extubation. In these cases, keeping in the forefront of lung protective strategy, respiratory mechanics should remain within physiological limits.¹² Consequently; Late congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a featured clinical condition due to the possibility of intra-abdominal hypertension in the postoperative period. In these cases, early diagnosis is important for prevention of the development of lung hypoplasia. As it was in our case, we believe that avoidance of positive fluid overlod at surgery the only option for treatment and intensive care follow up and prevention of intra-abdominal hypertension benefiting from treatment guidelines of WSAC are quite significant for morbidity and mortality.

Declarations

References

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Figures

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Figure 1. Preoperative patient’s chest x-ray. On the left side of the chest the abdominal contents are observed.

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Figure 2. Preoperative computed tomography scan of case

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Figure 3. Postoperative chest radiograph on the first day

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Figure 4. The pre-discharge control chest x-ray of case

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About This Article

Received:

November 3, 2015

Accepted:

November 7, 2015

Published Online:

May 1, 2016

Printed:

May 1, 2016