Gastric incarceration and perforation following posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia.

We report the case of a 36-year-old male patient who developed gastric incarceration and perforation in a diaphragmatic hernia 8 months after an automobile accident. During emergency surgery, protrusion of the stomach into the thoracic cavity and perforation on the anterior aspect of the stomach were noted. The gastric perforation and the diaphragmatic defect were closed. During the postoperative course, the patient developed sepsis and coagulopathy that subsided following medical therapy. In order to prevent severe complications, surgery is indicated as soon as conclusive diagnosis is made.