Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia in a Low- and Middle-Income Country: A Case Report

This case report highlights the successful use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) to achieve early diagnosis of a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (DH), leading to timely surgical intervention. Traumatic DH, often resulting from blunt trauma, poses a diagnostic challenge due to its rarity, potential for occult presentation, and the presence of other life-threatening injuries that may obscure its detection. Delayed diagnosis can result in significant mortality, primarily due to cardiorespiratory compromise from visceral herniation. This report underscores the value of bedside ultrasound in resource-limited EDs as a critical tool for evaluating traumatic DH during the initial assessment, with the potential to improve patient outcomes in such settings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in an LMIC in which POCUS played a pivotal role in the timely diagnosis and management of this condition.