Perforation of the stomach due to chest tube complication in a patient with iatrogenic diaphragmatic rupture.

Diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury is difficult. A case of iatrogenic diaphragmatic rupture is reported in which perforation of a herniated stomach occurred following left lobectomy and partial resection of the diaphragm for lung cancer. On the second postoperative day, bile-stained fluid coming out from the chest tube revealed gastrointestinal leakage. This rare complication of chest tube insertion, early diagnosis and treatment are emphasized.