Hiatus hernia: a complication of postero-lateral diaphragmatic herniation (Bochdalek hernia) in infants.

During the six years from January 1973 to Februrary 1979, 23 infants with postero-lateral diaphragmatic (Bochdalek) hernias have been treated in the Paediatric Surgical Unit of the General Infirmary at Leeds. Surgical repair was performed in all cases. Ten patients died. Severe vomiting occurred in seven (54%) of the 13 survivors. Barium meal demonstrated large hiatus hernias in four (31%) of the 13 survivors. This previously unreported complication of Bochdalek hernia repair should be consideredin all patients with vomiting following surgical repair of a Bochdalek hernia.