Right sided bochdalek diaphragmatic hernia appeared as a life threatening event in an infant: a case report

Abstract

We report a case of a 5-month-old female infant who presented with a cardiorespiratory distress and shock. After thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan, a right sided Bochdalek hernia was diagnosed with massive herniation of the abdominal viscera causing mediastinal shift. The girl underwent emergency laparotomy, which confirmed the right sided diaphragmatic hernia with herniation of small bowel and colon. After reduction of herniated contents, the defect in the diaphragm was closed. The patient had an uneventful post-operative cause. This case demonstrates that an undiagnosed Bochdalek hernia can appear with such a severe, life-threatening and misleading presentation.