Anesthetic Management of Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia in a 52-Year-Old Female with Emergency Thoracotomy and Hernia Repair: A Case Report

Abstract

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (TDH) is a rare, life-threatening condition resulting from diaphragmatic disruption due to blunt or penetrating trauma. Emergency thoracotomy and hernia repair become imperative to address immediate complications. Anesthetic management demands a comprehensive understanding of the patient's physiology, trauma specifics, and planned surgical intervention. This case report outlines the successful anesthetic handling of a 52-year-old female with a TDH after a two-wheeler fall. With a five-year history of systemic hypertension, she presented to the emergency room with breathlessness. Imaging confirmed liver herniation into the right hemithorax via a rent in the right hemidiaphragm. The patient underwent emergency thoracotomy and hernia repair. This report highlights the perioperative considerations, challenges, and outcomes in managing TDH in this specific clinical context.