Successful transthoracic repair of a ruptured spleen

Torsion of the spleen: an unusual presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

We describe an unusual case of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a 6-week-old boy who presented with severe respiratory distress due to torsion of the spleen which had passed up into the chest through a Bochdalek hernia and caused a left hemothorax. Scintigraphy with heat-damaged red cells was diagnostic by showing a damaged but functioning spleen above the diaphragm. Surgical repair and return of the spleen to the abdomen resulted in complete recovery.