Diaphragmatic Rupture

Herniation of Stomach Through Diaphragm

• May be congenital or aquired (e.g. after road accident)

Clinical

Displacement of stomach into thorax (Courtesy of BioMed Image Archive)

• Causes respiratory distress over several days.

Pathogenesis

• Common following road traffic accidents in smaller dogs and cats
  • Sudden rise in intra-abdominal pressure ruptures diaphragm, allowing stomach to pass into thorax.
• Also results from kick or severe blow to abdomen
  • Diaphragm splits and stomach forced into thorax.

Pathology

• Abdominal viscera present in thoracic cavity.
  • Flow of ingesta is disturbed.
  • Thorax is distended and lungs collapse.
• There is a good chance of recovery if the condition is caught reasonably early (before adhesions begin to form).
  • The damage can be repaired.