Late-onset traumatic diaphragmatic hernia associated with acute pancreatitis: A case report

RATIONALE: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common diseases of gastroenterological emergency with a highly variable clinical course and the incidence being on the rise in recent years. Posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia is an uncommon disease and may manifest immediately or several years after the incident. Delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia associated with AP is relatively rare. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 26-year-old male with history of left chest knife injury 10 years ago, had AP due to delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia 5 days after Dragon Boat Race. DIAGNOSES: Thoracoabdominal computerized tomography detected left diaphragmatic hernia with pancreatic head displacement. Emergency surgery confirmed the diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: Emergency surgery to reduce and repair the hernia. OUTCOMES: The patient was discharged from the hospital on the sixth postoperative day and no recurrence of pancreatitis during follow-up. LESSONS: For patients without obvious etiology of AP, clinicians should be highly vigilant and inquire the history in detail. For patients with trauma, the relevant examination should be improved, and the pancreatitis caused by traumatic diaphragmatic hernia should be treated with emergency operation immediately.