[Tension gastrothorax as a late consequence of an undiagnosed rupture of the diaphragm].

The authors present a case-review of a 20-year-old male who suffered from a car accident polytruma (the ISS 22, brain contusion, lung contusion, serial ribs fructures, fracture of the Th8, haematoma of the left kidney with haematuria). Surgery was not indicated, his thorax and abdomen were repeatedly examined with x-rays, ultrasound and CT scans, during the patient's hospitalization and during the follow-up period. After some time, the stomach expansion in the pleural cavity imitated the clinical and roentgenological findings typical for the tension pneumothorax. Urgent drainage solved the cardiopulmonary failure and cleared up the diagnosis. This atypical case is followed by a short literature overview.