Morgagni Hernia Causing Incarcerated Bowel and Contributing to Cardiac Arrest

A Morgagni hernia is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)-incomplete formation of the diaphragm. Though congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDHs) are a common class of birth defect, the majority are diagnosed either prenatally or shortly after birth since these patients can present with cardiopulmonary failure due to pulmonary hypoplasia or pulmonary hypertension.¹ However, the Morgagni type of CDH predisposes it to go undetected well into adulthood. We describe the case of a 63-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with epigastric pain and emesis. He was found to have incarcerated bowel in his pericardial sac on computed tomography imaging after being resuscitated from cardiac arrest. He then underwent surgical repair of the defect. This case is unique in its presentation with small bowel inside the pericardium, contributing to cardiac tamponade and subsequent cardiac arrest.