CASE REPORT

Late presentation of Bochdalek Hernia with intestinal symptoms

Tariq Burki, Amir Amanullah*, Atta Ur Rehman*, Mian Naushad Ali*

Departments of Paediatric Surgery, and **General Surgery/Surgical B Ward, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar,Pakistan

Bochdalek hernia is a rare condition that usually presents in the neonatal age. Rarely it presents late and is usually misdiagnosed. We came across a Bochdalek hernia, which presented at the age of 15 years and was initially misdiagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis. The case history, diagnosis and management of this condition alongwith literature review are presented here.

Introduction

Bochdalek hernia is a rare entity1,2. It usually presents in the neonatal age with respiratory symptoms. It has a high mortality rate due to associated lung hypoplasia despite the newer modalities of treatment2. Sometimes it presents late with respiratory symptoms, sub acute intestinal symptoms or an incidental finding3. These cases usually have better prognosis.

Case Report

A 15 years old boy presented to the medical out patient department with complaints of cough, vomiting and abdominal pain for one month. He also had constipation and abdominal distension for three days. The vomiting was non bilious and after every meal. Examination showed a thin lean boy with scaphoid abdomen, normal bowel sounds and decreased breath sounds over the left side of the chest. The X-ray showed left pleural effusion. The differential diagnosis included Pulmonary TB, abdominal Koch with sub acute intestinal obstruction. Surgical consultation was made for intestinal obstruction. In the surgical ward X-Rays were viewed with suspicion of diaphragmatic hernia. Detailed history revealed that he had on and off symptoms of sub acute intestinal obstruction since three years of age. He had no respiratory symptoms at all. Examination revealed scaphoid abdomen with bowel sounds in the left hemithorax. Barium meal and follow through confirmed left side diaphragmatic hernia. Peroperatively there was a large postereolateral diaphragmatic defect through which most of the small and large intestine and spleen had herniated into the left chest. There was also malrotation of gut with bands of Ladd giving rise to obstructive symptoms and a large stomach. The contents were reduced and the defect repaired with silk. Malrotation was also corrected at the same time. Although there was some difficulty in closing the abdomen, the patient had an uneventful recovery in ICU. Post-operative X-Ray after one week showed remarkable lung expansion.

Discussion

Bochdalek hernia is a rare entity. McCulley gave its earliest description in 1754. Bochdalek in 1848 described in detail the embryological aspects of the hernia1,2. There are three types of congenital diaphragmatic hernias; Morgagni, Hiatal and Bochdalek Hernia. The most common type (80%) is the posterolateral defect or Bochdalek hernia4.

Its incidence in the neonates has been quoted to be between 1:2000–50001,2. In adults the incidence has variably been reported to be between 0.17% reported by Mullens et al5 to as high as 6% by Gale6. It was calculated on the basis of retrospective CT Scan studies done for some other purpose. The exact cause of Bochdalek hernia is unknown. It has been associated with antenatal use of thalidomide, Quinine, nitrofenide, antiepileptics or deficiency of vitamin A.

The usual presentation is in the neonatal age with respiratory distress, vomiting and cyanosis7,8. The cause of the symptoms is due to pulmonary hypoplasia, malrotation or strangulation of bowel through the narrow hernial orifice. Adult presents in a different way. Presentations include incidental finding at laparotomy performed for some other purpose or CT and MRI done for another disease5. Intermittent sub acute intestinal obstruction9,10, or persistent cough and respiratory problems are other modes of presentation3,7.

The diagnosis in children is based on clinical examination in which there is a scaphoid abdomen and bowel sound in the chest. In good centers it is now diagnosed antenatally by ultrasound in 40–90% of the cases. Postnatally simple X-Ray chest or in cases of doubt barium meal and follow through are usually diagnostic. In the adults diagnosis is usually missed until there is a high index of suspicion. Thomas et al have found that nearly 38% of adults are misdiagnosed in this way3. It has been wrongly diagnosed as pleural effusion, empyema, lung cyst and pneumothorax3,10. In asymptomatic adults the diagnosis is usually made by CT or MRI performed for some other condition.

The surgical approach can be done either through abdomen or the chest. The abdominal approach has the advantage of correcting the malrotation at the same time. The contents usually include most of the small intestine and portion of large intestine5,7. The spleen is also nearly always present in the chest. Some times left lobe of the liver, left adrenal gland or left kidney may also be present. The incarcerated loops of bowel should be carefully dealt with. The rent in the diaphragm is closed with non-absorbable interrupted sutures. If the defect is too large mesh can also be inserted. The abdominal wall closure may be problematic, as most of the intestine has never resided in the abdomen. Charles et al. recommend that only skin closure with delayed closure of the muscles should be done in such situations. Laproscopic repair of the hernia has also been reported10.

The overall prognosis in the neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia has not improved much. Despite the use of latest technique of extra corporeal membrane oxygenation the survival is still between 50–65%4,8. The degree of pulmonary hypoplasia determines the outcome. For this reason it is regarded as physiological emergency rather than surgical emergency. In adults however the prognosis is much better probably because of the absence of pulmonary hypoplasia. The lung on the affected side is nearly always hypoplastic to some extent4. Future therapies like intrauterine tracheal plugging or occlusion are under trial2.

References

  1. Detti L, Mari G, Ferguson JE. Colour doppler ultrasonography of the superior mesenteric artery for prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of a left sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia. J Ultrasoun Med 2001; 20(6): 689-92.

  2. Charles JH, Peter WD. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia and eventration. In O'Niel JA, Row MI, Grosfeld JL, Fonkalsrud EW, Coran AG, editors; Pediatric Surgery, Philadelphia, Mosby, 1998, pp 819-832.

  3. Thomas S, Kapur B. Adult Bochdalek hernia– Clinical features, management and results of treatment. Jpn J Surg 1991; 21(1): 114-9.

  4. Langer JC. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Chest Surg Clin N Am 1998;   8(2): 295-314.

  5. Mullins ME, Stein J, Saini SS, Mueller PR. Prevalence in incidental Bochdalek's Hernia in a large adult population. Am J Roentgenol 2001; 177(2): 363-6.

  6. Gale ME. Bochdalek's hernia: prevalence and CT characteristics. Radiology 1985; 156(2): 449-52.

  7. Ozturk H, Karnak I, Sakarya MT, Setenkursan S. Late presentation of Bochdalek hernia:  Clinical and radiological aspects. Pediatr Pulmonl 2001; 31(4): 306-10.

  8. Chu SM, Hsieh WS, Lin JN, Yan PH, Fu RH, Kuo CR. Treatment and outcome of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. J Farmos Med Assoc 2000; 99(11): 844-7.

  9. Zenda T, Kezaki C, Mori Y, Miyamoto S, Nakashima A. Adult right sided Bochdalek hernia facilitated by co existent hepatic hypoplasia. Abdom Imaging 2000; 25(4): 394-6.

  10. Al-Emadi M, Helmy I, Nada MA, Al-Jabbar H. Laparoscopic repair of a Bochdalek hernia in an adult. Surg Laprosc Endosc Percutan Tech 1999; 9(6): 423-5.

Address for Correspondence and Reprints:

Dr. Tariq Burki C/O Principal Govt. College of Commerce, GT Road, Peshawar-25000, Pakistan.   

Email: drtb@isb.paknet.pk, drtb19@yahoo.com