[Congenital right diaphragmatic eventration manifested with pleural effusion. Report of one case].

A 2,980-gram female infant was born to a 25-year-old mother at the gestational age of 34 weeks with the chief problems of asphyxia and respiratory distress. Prenatal sonogram at 34th week of gestation showed significant pleural effusion, mediastinal shift, polyhydramnios and large for date. Soon after birth, she was put on intubation and ventilator therapy. Physical examination revealed poor chest wall excursion. Breathing sound was markedly decreased over the right lung field. Abdomen was soft and slightly distended with the liver palpable 0.5 cm below the right costal margin and 2 cm below the xyphoid process. Arterial blood gas with patient breathing 100% oxygen revealed severe acidosis and carbon dioxide retention. The first chest film showed right pleural effusion. Chest tap was performed, and 90 cc serosanguineous fluid was aspirated. The white cells of the effusion were 1,971 with lymphocyte predominant. No microorganism or malignant cell was found. Severe respiratory distress and cyanosis persisted inspite of these managements. Follow up chest film at the age of 11 hours revealed the right chest was occupied by intestinal loops. A thoracotomy was performed with the impression of right diaphragmatic hernia. The operation findings included a very redundant membranous portion of diaphragm formed a large sac containing the liver and some bowel loops, the lower lobe of the right lung collapsed and was located high in the posterior chest cavity. Diaphragmatic plication and excision were done with transient improvement of the skin color. The baby's condition deteriorated and expired at the age of 25 hours despite of postoperative vasodilator and ventilator therapies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)