Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia complicating pregnancy

Abstract

Intestinal obstruction in pregnancy is rare but has a high maternal and foetal mortality. We present a case of 32-year-old patient who presented in her 2nd trimester of pregnancy with signs and symptoms of large bowel obstruction. An exploratory laparotomy revealed that the transverse colon had herniated through a diaphragmatic tear as the cause of the intestinal obstruction. The delays in presentation and diagnostic dilemmas associated with intestinal obstruction in pregnancy are manifested in this case. Keywords: intestinal obstruction; pregnancy; diaphragmatic hernia