Morgagni Hernia in Elderly Patients: A Case Report

Morgagni–Larrey diaphragmatic hernia is a rare condition, accounting for about 3% of all diaphragmatic hernias. It is always located anteriorly, at the sites of diaphragmatic weakness corresponding to the foramina of Morgagni (right) and Larrey (left).

Most of these hernias are asymptomatic. When symptoms occur, they are usually respiratory, but may also be digestive (heartburn, vomiting, bowel obstruction) or cardiac (atypical chest pain, tamponade).

We report the case of a 75-year-old woman, with a history of hypertension (4 years) and cholecystectomy (7 years), who presented with epigastric pain associated with mild hematemesis and dark vomitus. Thoraco-abdominal CT revealed a large Morgagni–Larrey diaphragmatic hernia containing the greater omentum and transverse colon. The patient underwent surgical repair without complications.

This case highlights the surgical indications for anterior diaphragmatic hernias, given the risk of complications such as strangulation.