Congenital mixed giant hiatal hernia in a four-month-old infant.

INTRODUCTION

Congenital hiatal hernia is a rare pathology, presenting at 28 months of age on average. Paraesophageal/mixed hernias cause recurrent respiratory infections, vomiting, anemia, and growth failure.

CLINICAL CASE: Four-month-old infant, with irritability since birth and partial feeding intolerance in the last 24 hours. A partial intrathoracic stomach was evidenced in the esophago-gastro-duodenal contrast study. A thoraco-abdominal CT scan was carried out, with giant mixed hiatal hernia, right posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia, and congenital short esophagus being considered as potential diagnoses. A giant mixed hiatal hernia was noted during surgery. Laparoscopic herniorrhaphy and Nissen fundoplication were performed.

DISCUSSION: In the pediatric population, Bochdalek's hernia and Morgagni's hernia are the most frequent congenital diaphragmatic hernias. Hiatal hernia is rare and causes gastrointestinal symptoms more frequently. Surgery is the treatment of choice, with the objective of preventing or minimizing these symptoms as well as gastric volvulus.