Hepatic pulmonary fusion in an infant with a right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia and contralateral mediastinal shift

Hepatic pulmonary fusion is extremely rare with only 9 previous cases reported in the literature. In typical cases, the clinician should be alerted to the possibility of hepatic pulmonary fusion if the chest radiograph shows a large opacity on the right side without a contralateral mediastinal shift. The authors present a case of right-sided diaphragmatic hernia and hepatic pulmonary fusion with associated contralateral mediastinal shift discovered beyond the neonatal period. The 9 previous cases were retrospectively reviewed with special attention to mediastinal shift on preoperative chest radiograph, operative procedure, and mortality. Only one previous case demonstrated a contralateral mediastinal shift. The most common procedure performed was partial separation of the hepatic pulmonary fusion and approximation of the diaphragmatic defect. Four of the previous 9 patients died. In our case, reduction of bowel and approximation of the diaphragmatic defect around the fused liver and lung have been successful.