Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture: delayed presentation following a SCUBA dive

Abstract

Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR) is a rare yet life-threatening occurrence that remains a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Delayed presentation with associated strangulation of the contents, although uncommon, requires emergent management. A 42-year-old woman presented with constant, severe left-sided shoulder and chest pain, as well as associated upper abdominal pain following a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) dive. A chest radiograph (CXR) and CT showed a left-sided diaphragmatic hernia containing stomach. She subsequently underwent a laparoscopic repair of the diaphragmatic defect and recovered well postoperatively.