Management of diaphragmatic eventration in a low-income setting: A case report

Abstract

Diaphragmatic eventration, is a rare pathology that is characterized by abnormal elevation of the diaphragm and abdominal contents residing within thoracic cavity, though separated from the lungs by the thin or membraneous diaphragm. It may be asymptomatic but may result in dyspnoea, heaviness in the chest and hearing of bowel sounds in the chest. We report a 63 year old man who presented to our service, 10 years history prior, of heaviness in the left hemithorax and whose chest x-ray revealed an abnormally elevated dome of the left hemidiaphragm in the chest (eventration). He was worked up for left thoracotomy, plication of the diaphragm with uneventful recovery postoperatively and disappearance of symptoms.