Bochdalek Hernia
Other Known Aliases – none
Definition – Postero-lateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Clinical Significance – This type of congenital malformation can cause severe respiratory distress in a newborn as a result of compression on the lungs from herniated peritoneal contents. This is a surgical disease and infants are admitted to the NICU and supported via mechanical ventilation or ECMO until surgery can be planned.
History – Named Vincent Bochdalek (1801-1883), who was a Bohemian anatomist and pathologist and received his medical doctorate from the University of Prague in 1833. He would later in his career return to his alma mater as a professor of anatomy for several decades where he earned is reputation as a prominent anatomist. He was a fervent advocate for establishing anatomy labs throughout Prague and was one of the founding physicians in the Prague School of Medicine. He was one of the pioneers in describing congenital diaphragmatic hernias in newborns and, unfortunately, there is little in the medical literature regarding him, but his eponym lives on. He published his extensive findings on his eponymous condition in 1848.
References
- Firkin BG and Whitwirth JA. Dictionary of Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. New York, NY; Parthenon Publishing Group. 1996.
- Bartolucci S, Forbis P. Stedman’s Medical Eponyms. 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD; LWW. 2005.
- Yee AJ, Pfiffner P. (2012). Medical Eponyms (Version 1.4.2) [Mobile Application Software]. Retrieved http://itunes.apple.com.
- Whonamedit – dictionary of medical eponyms. http://www.whonamedit.com
- Up To Date. www.uptodate.com
- Loukas M, El-Sedfy A, Tubbs RS, Gribben WB, Shoja MM, Cermakova A. Vincent Alexander Bochdalek (1801-1883). World journal of surgery. 2008; 32(10):2324-6. [pubmed]
- Bochdalek VA. Einige Betrachtungen über die Entstehung des angeborenen Zwerchfellbruches als Beitrag zur pathologischen Anatomie der Hernien. Vierteljahrschrift für die praktische Heilkunde. (Prag) 1848;19:89
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