Blunt traumatic rupture of the right hemidiaphragm and Budd-Chiari syndrome

We present 2 cases of delayed diagnosis of rupture of the right hemidiaphragm caused by blunt thoracic trauma, in which herniation of the liver toward the thoracic cavity had occurred. Both patients showed signs of noncardiogenic hepatic venous outflow obstruction. Venous outflow returned to normal an reintroduction of the liver into the abdominal cavity and closure of the defect in the diaphragm. The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of this problem are discussed.