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.