A rare association of congenital diaphragmatic eventration in complex cyanotic heart defect: Should we miss?

Abstract

Congenital diaphragmatic eventration is relatively uncommon. The association with congenital cyanotic heart defect is even more uncommon. The identification of these conditions at an early stage is a significant challenge due to the similarities in symptoms exhibited by cyanotic heart disease and diaphragmatic eventration. We present a case of a two-year-old child with an underlying Ebstein anomaly, pulmonary atresia, and ventricular septal defect. Despite a few previous hospitalizations due to the underlying cardiac defect, the child was diagnosed with left diaphragmatic eventration at the age of 13 months. A decision was made to perform diaphragmatic plication before cardiac surgery following a multidisciplinary team discussion to optimize lung function and prevent complications after cardiac surgery.