Intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia following cardiac surgery - A case report

Intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia is an abdominal organ prolapse inside the pericardium. It is one of the less frequent instances within the diaphragmatic hernia group.

This is the case of a 4-month-old infant undergoing surgery for interventricular communication (IVC). Postoperatively, pulmonary auscultation detected air-fluid sounds, and thoracic radiological control showed an atypical pneumopericardium. Given clinical and radiological findings, and in the absence of additional abdominal symptoms, gastrointestinal transit (GIT) was performed, demonstrating intrapericardial herniation of the intestinal loops. The patient was discharged following abdominal surgical repair, with no further complications.

Intrapericardial diaphragmatic hernia is an infrequent instance within the diaphragmatic hernia group, with cardiac surgery being a rare potential iatrogenic factor. Clinical suspicion and imaging findings are key to perform early diagnosis and surgical treatment.