Diaphragmatic defect with peritoneopericardial communication.

An 81-year-old man had a congenital defect of the central tendon of the diaphragm, including a peritoneopericardial communication with herniation of the omentum to the pericardial sac in front of the heart. In addition, he had a critically stenosed congenital bicuspid aortic valve and severe coronary artery disease. The patient underwent reduction of the herniated omentum into the abdominal cavity, coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement, and closure of the peritoneopericardial communication with a synthetic patch. Three years later, the patient was doing well, with a normally functioning pericardial valve in the aortic position and no sign of omentum around the heart.