Repair of Morgagni hernia and ventricular septal defect through sternotomy.

We report a case of Morgagni hernia occupying the anterior mediastinum and right hemithorax in a male infant with Down syndrome, who also had a perimembranous ventricular septal defect. Through a median sternotomy, the hernia sac was freed from the right pleura, and the pericardium was opened to reduce its contents (colon) into the abdomen. The diaphragmatic defect was closed with Prolene mesh and the hernia sac was used to reinforce the diaphragmatic defect. Finally, the pericardium was opened and the ventricular septal defect was closed with a polytetrafluoroethylene patch through a right atriotomy after instituting cardiopulmonary bypass.