A case report on late-onset congenital diaphragmatic hernia in adolescence

Abstract

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a life-threatening anomaly with the high mortality rate in infancy. Very rarely they remain silent and manifest in the adult life. Once they manifest, the symptoms vary and are not easy to diagnose. The entity also has associated problems in the form of hypoplastic lungs and loss of domain of the abdomen. In such cases, the diagnosis is most often based on clinical suspicion and radiological confirmation. The treatment options are open abdominothoracic procedures or laparoscopic procedures. Once hernia is reduced, the defect is closed and should be reinforced with prosthetic mesh. Here we present a case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a teenager presenting with cardiac symptoms. The challenges faced in managing the case are discussed.