Non traumatic acquired acute transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia induced by coughing

Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia is a rare disease. It is usually caused by trauma and is rarely caused by coughing. Although a few cases of intercostal hernia induced by coughing have been reported, our case of a non traumatic acquired acute transdiaphragmatic intercostal and abdominal hernia induced by coughing is very rare. A 77-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset left lower chest pain after an episode of violent coughing. She had risk factors for intercostal hernia, including obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, oral steroid use, and diabetes mellitus. Computed tomography showed herniation of the lung and intra-abdominal organs into the thoracic and abdominal wall through a ruptured diaphragm, as well as the intercostal and abdominal muscles. Surgery was completed with interrupted sutures to close the defects after the reduction of the herniated organs. Our experience suggests that careful examinations, including the assessment of risk factors and computed tomography imaging, were essential for establishing an accurate diagnosis, and that the repair of a ruptured diaphragm with simple interrupted sutures without any prosthetic materials seems to be feasible in selected patients with a transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia.