Thoracoscopic Repair of a Right-Sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

The presentation of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) beyond infancy is rare, as it is a common cause for severe respiratory distress in the newborn. In contrast to the newborn period, delayed diagnosis of right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (RCDH) is known as it causes less severe symptoms than left-sided CDH. A case of an 8-month-old girl is reported. Chest x-ray and ultrasound examination of the diaphragm for symptoms of pneumonia revealed an RCDH. Thoracoscopic repair could be performed. The further course was uneventful. Thoracoscopic repair of a RCDH proved in this case to be feasible and safe beyond the newborn period. It avoided the morbidity of a major thoracotomy or laparotomy and provided an excellent cosmetic result. To our knowledge, this is the first report of thoracoscopic repair of RCDH.