Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia after pulmonary artery banding operation through median sternotomy

Diaphragmatic hernias following cardiac surgeries in general are being reported after coronary artery bypass grafting using the right gastro-epiploic artery as a conduit as well as in patients with ventricular assist devices, orthotopic heart transplants, or subxiphoid epicardial pacemakers. We report a case of an iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia following pulmonary artery banding operation through median sternotomy which was discovered 4 years later during the debanding and ventricular septal defect closure operation. The diaphragm was most likely injured during insertion of the retro-sternal tube during the first operation.