Left congenital diaphragmatic hernia -- case report.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs when the abdominal contents protrude into the thoracic cavity through an anatomical defect in the diaphragm. The incidence of CDH is 1 in 2500 births, with left congenital diaphragmatic hernias(LCDH) being more common than right-side hernias (85% to 12%). While many cases are discovered prenatally or during the immediate postnatal period, 5 to 25% of CDH can be late presenting events which are detected by routine examinations,during medical check-ups, because of respiratory or gastrointestinal problems or complications such as gastric volvulus,occlusion, perforation, peritonitis or necrosis. Trans-abdominal or trans-thoracic approach is mandatory in those cases where complications have been identified. The prognosis for late presenting patients with LCDH is usually favorable. We report he case of a 7-year-old girl with recent history of trauma,who was admitted to a local hospital with respiratory distress. In our clinic, LCDH was diagnosed and closure of the defect was performed through an open trans-abdominal approach with favorable outcome.