Edmund Kessler
Weill Cornell Medical Center, USA
Title: Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia in infants: Potentially catastrophic when overlooked
Biography
Biography: Edmund Kessler
Abstract
Acquired diaphragmatic hernias are a rare occurrence. They can result from blunt, penetrating or inadvertent iatrogenic injury. When overlooked they can potentially be catastrophic. We report a case of iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia in a six-month old infant presenting with acute respiratory distress as a result of strangulated bowel herniating into the left hemithorax caused from a traumatic chest tube insertion in the neonatal period. To avoid potentially life-threatening complications associated with misplaced chest tubes such as viscus perforation in the future, one might consider using soft pleural catheters using the Seldinger technique, especially in pre-term neonates as well as a general awareness of complications associated with misplaced chest tubes.