Gastric Gangrene Due to a Strangulated Paraesophageal Hernia—a Case report

Paraesophageal hernias are considered to be benign entities which are usually managed conservatively. We present a case of a middle-aged male with no previous history of esophageal hernia who presented with acute chest and abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed to have a type 2 paraesophageal her...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of surgery 2015-04, Vol.77 (Suppl 1), p.66-68
Main Authors: Iqbal, Abid, Naik, Rakesh, Mohanan, PK
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cardiac Surgery
Case Report
Diagnosis
Esophagus
Gangrene
Gastrointestinal surgery
Health aspects
Hernia
Hernias
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Neurosurgery
Pediatric Surgery
Plastic Surgery
Surgery
Thoracic Surgery
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Summary:Paraesophageal hernias are considered to be benign entities which are usually managed conservatively. We present a case of a middle-aged male with no previous history of esophageal hernia who presented with acute chest and abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed to have a type 2 paraesophageal hernia with gastro-thorax. Laparotomy was performed during which it was found that herniated segment of the stomach had strangulated and gangrenous. Thoracotomy was performed and gangrenous stomach segment resected. A roux-en-Y esophago-jejunostomy was performed. Diaphragmatic defect was plicated. Patient recovered with adequate post operative support. A review of the literature revealed that paraesophageal hernias presenting as acute abdominal pain is a rare clinical entity and those with gastric gangrene is even rarer, with high mortality rates. We suggest that paraesophageal hernias require to be managed actively considering the seriousness of potential complications and the relative safety of newer elective surgical modalities. A high index of suspicion is needed in order to avoid missing this diagnosis in patients presenting with chest pain.
ISSN:0972-2068
0973-9793
DOI:10.1007/s12262-014-1135-1