[A case of unusual complication of diaphragmatic herniation of transverse colon following transhiatal esophagectomy].

The authors report a rare complication observed after transhiatal esophagus extirpation performed for esophageal cancer. In this case the transverse colon herniated into the pleural cavity through the esophageal hiatus. Herniation completed on the 6.th. postoperative day and caused mechanical ileus. In the first few postoperative days, radiology pointed to a basal pulmonal infiltrate, later it resembled relaxation of the diaphragm, which was rather misleading. Recognition of the real situation was possible only on the 6.th.postoperative day. The patient was reoperated and the pathological state could be reversed. The esophageal hiatus was reconstructed. In the opinion of the authors the complication may have developed partly due to the opening of the left pleural cavity in the course of extrathoracal esophagectomy, and partly to the fact that the spleen was removed during operation. The outcome after reoperation was uneventful. The authors consider this as a rather rare and instructive case.