Congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the adult.

Bochdalek hernia is a rare surgical condition primarily diagnosed in infants. Morgagni hernia is more commonly identified in adults. A subset of patients with a Bochdalek hernia, especially those with a right-sided defect, may also be diagnosed during adulthood. Both adult forms of CDH may be discovered incidentally or diagnosed as part of the investigation of nonspecific gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms. It is recommended that all adult CDH patients undergo surgical repair to prevent incarceration and strangulation of abdominal viscera. Currently, many reports have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of using open or minimally invasive repairtechniques, with or without mesh reinforcement. Regardless of the approach selected, surgical repair has been associated with low morbidity and mortality and excellent long-term outcomes with low rate of recurrence.