Eventration of Diaphragm: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Eventration of diaphragm is an uncommon congenital abnormality which is seen in newborns and adults with different manifestations. It may be unilateral, bilateral, partial or total. This abnormality is more common in males. It is usually seen in the left hemi-diaphragm. Sometimes it has no signs or symptoms. If so, there is no need to do any surgery. But in cases who suffer from any related disease, surgery is necessary. Please cite this article as: Marzieh Soheili, Anvar Elyasi. Eventration of Diaphragm: A Case Report and Review of Literature. World Family Medicine. 2017; (10):280-283. DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93175 Introduction Eventration of diaphragm (ED) is defined as the abnormal elevation of a hemi-diaphragm. It may have a congenital reason or may be acquired. Congenital eventration is a developmental abnormality secondary to hypoplasia of the homolateral lung or diaphragmatic muscular aplasia leading to cardiorespiratory symptoms. In adults it is mostly because of diaphragmatic palsy through injury to the phrenic nerve that causes dyspnea [1,2]. The incidence of this anomaly is 1 in 10,000 live births. They commonly are presented with respiratory manifestations [3]. This paralysis can be due to a birth trauma or to an injury sustained in surgery on intrathoracic organs. Sometimes asymptomatic ED may be treated conservatively, but symptomatic ED in children whether congenital or acquired, mostly requires surgical treatment [4, 5, 6]. If the abdominal viscera migrate to the thorax, the patient may have gastrointestinal symptoms. Cor pulmonale is the consequence of long-lasting paralysis of the diaphragm. There are also some patients without any explained cause of ED which is considered as idiopathic eventration [7].