PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alviar, Carlos L
AU  - Cordova, Juan P
AU  - Korniyenko, Aleksandr
AU  - Javed, Fahad
AU  - Tsukayama, Miguel
AU  - Narayanswami, Gopal
TI  - Bilateral Bochdalek Hernias Presenting as Respiratory Failure in an Elderly Patient
AID  - 10.4187/respcare.00817
DP  - 2011 May 01
TA  - Respiratory Care
PG  - 691--694
VI  - 56
IP  - 5
4099  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/56/5/691.short
4100  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/56/5/691.full
AB  - Bochdalek hernia occurs from a congenital defect of the diaphragm, allowing the passage of abdominal structures into the thoracic cavity, limiting lung expansion and ventilatory function. Bochdalek hernia is common in neonates but rarely occur in adults; there are only 4 documented cases in the elderly population. We present a case of an 88-year-old woman with severe hypoxia and respiratory failure that required ventilatory support, in whom bilateral Bochdalek hernias progressed over the years and severely invaded the thoracic cavity, causing acute decompensation. This is a rare condition in adults but can cause substantial morbidity when the involvement of the thoracic cavity is severe.