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Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia complicating nephrectomy: top-down or bottom-up?

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Abstract

Hernias of the diaphragm are rarely reported as a complication of abdominal surgery. We review a case of a 47-year-old female who presented with dyspnoea and chest pain one day after left radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Plain and cross-sectional imaging identified a large left-sided diaphragmatic hernia containing omentum, spleen, splenic flexure, and stomach. Our patient underwent a thoracotomy and, after hernia reduction, the diaphragmatic defect was repaired using non-absorbable sutures and a mesh. She made an uneventful recovery. The potential cause is discussed and the published literature on this rare complication is reviewed briefly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Ikazia Hospital Rotterdam, P.O. Box 5009, 3008 AA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    V. E. de Meijer, W. J. Vles & P. T. den Hoed

  2. Department of Urology, Ikazia Hospital Rotterdam, P.O. Box 5009, 3008 AA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    E. Kats

Authors
  1. V. E. de Meijer
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  2. W. J. Vles
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  3. E. Kats
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  4. P. T. den Hoed
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Correspondence to P. T. den Hoed.

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de Meijer, V.E., Vles, W.J., Kats, E. et al. Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia complicating nephrectomy: top-down or bottom-up?. Hernia 12, 655–658 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-008-0377-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-008-0377-x

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