A Rare Case of Spontaneous Diaphragmatic Hernia with Gastric Perforation Presenting Like an Empyema

Abstract

Diaphragmatic hernias are rare and mostly congenital, rarely spontaneous. Perforation and other complications of diaphragmatic hernias are even rarer and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report a patient presenting to the emergency department with features of empyema requiring intercostal drainage. However, on clinical worsening, radiological imaging showed features of diaphragmatic hernia and a subsequent thoracostomy revealed a herniated gastric perforation. Such cases are very rare and need a high index of suspicion for the diagnosis and early appropriate surgical management. Otherwise, it is associated with very high rates of mortality.