Diaphragmatic Hernia Presenting as Acute Gastric Outlet Obstruction: A Rare Complication of Left Lower Lobectomy

Diaphragmatic hernia is defined as the prolapse of abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity through a defect in the diaphragm that is either congenital or acquired. Acquired hernias are common in adults and frequently occur as the result of trauma, either iatrogenic or non-iatrogenic. Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia is a rare complication of patient-related treatment maneuvers/procedures. The rate of late presentations of an iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia is disparate, ranging from 5 to 62%. Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia after pulmonary resection is extremely rare with only two case reports published worldwide so far. In this report, we discuss the case of a young male presenting several years after undergoing left lower lobectomy with signs and symptoms of acute gastric outlet obstruction.