HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Babu Naidu Joseph Khalil-Marzouk Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Daniel, R. Articles by Khalil-Marzouk, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Daniel, R. Articles by Khalil-Marzouk, J. Related Collections Chest wall Diaphragm

Case reports

Cough-induced rib fracture and diaphragmatic rupture resulting in simultaneous abdominal visceral herniation into the left hemithorax and subcutaneously

University Hospital, Coventry, UK

Received 29 April 2008; accepted 16 June 2008.

^_* Corresponding author. Address: Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK. Tel.: +44 2476535906; fax: +44 1216037085. (Email: joe.marzouk{at}uhcw.nhs.uk).

Violent coughing is associated with a multitude of complications including rib fractures and diaphragmatic rupture. In this report we present a case of a 70-year-old male with the rare combination of both complications resulting in herniation of bowel into the left hemithorax and subcutaneously between the separated ribs. Surgical repair was performed via a left thoracotomy, the hernia reduced and the diaphragmatic and chest wall defect repaired primarily with excellent patient recovery and relief of symptoms.

Key Words: Diaphragmatic hernia • Rib fracture