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Cynthia L. Leslie, MD
From the Critical Care Unit, Yale–New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.

Arch Surg. 2001;136:1211-1212.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

INTRODUCTION

A 70-YEAR-OLD unrestrained female driver was involved in a head-on motor vehicle collision. On arrival at the trauma room, she was only experiencing pain in her right knee. There was no shortness of breath. Her medical history was remarkable for asthma and hypertension. On examination, her respiratory rate was 18 breaths per minute. Breath sounds were decreased over the left hemithorax. Bowel sounds were not heard. Her room-air arterial blood gas pH was 7.38, with PO₂ and PCO₂ levels of 145 mm Hg and 44 mm Hg, respectively, and a bicarbonate level of 28 mEq/L. Radiograph images (Figure 1 and Figure 2) showed marked elevation of the left hemidiaphragm.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

What Is the Diagnosis?

A. Ruptured diaphragm

B. Bochdalek hernia

C. Phrenic nerve paralysis

D. Eventration

Answer: Eventration of the Diaphragm

Figure 1. Posterior-anterior chest radiograph.

Figure 2. Lateral chest radiograph.

Eventration is defined as an abnormal elevation . . . [Full Text of this Article]