A Rare Cause of Dyspnoea: Right-sided Bochdalek Hernia in an Adult

Authors

• David Rocha Paiva Hospital Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal
• Daniela Casanova Hospital Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal
• Helio Martins Hospital Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal
• Margarida Cerqueira Hospital Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal
• Mariana Formigo Hospital Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal
• Olinda Miranda Hospital Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal
• Jorge Cotter Hospital Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, Guimarães, Portugal

davidpaiva5@gmail.com

Keywords

Abstract

Right-sided Bochdalek hernia (BH) is very rarely diagnosed in adults. It commonly presents with gastrointestinal symptoms (pain, abdominal distension and vomiting). Breathlessness, recurrent chest infections and other pulmonary sequelae can also be present. We report the case of a 92-year-old man with a 3-day history of dyspnoea, fever and thoracic pain and multiple episodes of vomiting. An x-ray was performed, and the diagnosis of a large BH hernia was confirmed by computed tomography of the thorax. The condition may be fatal in cases where the small bowel undergoes necrosis or perforation. An emergent laparotomy was performed, but the patient did not improve clinically and died immediately after the procedure.