Spontaneous pneumothorax during operative laparoscopy secondary to congenital diaphragmatic defects. A case report.

As operative laparoscopy increases in popularity and use, so will the number and variety of complications associated with it. Laparoscopists should be cognizant of techniques for avoiding complications as well as alert to conditions that result in complications. We report an operative laparoscopic procedure that resulted in a complete right pneumothorax. This complication developed because of congenital diaphragmatic defects and was recognized and appropriately treated intraoperatively. The combination of the defects with the increased intraperitoneal pressure from laparoscopy resulted in the pneumothorax. The incidental diagnosis of diaphragmatic defects during laparoscopic surgery has not been reported before.