Retrosternal (Morgagni) hernia with small bowel obstruction secondary to a Richter's incarceration

Retrosternal (Morgagni) hernias in children are usually asymptomatic or may be associated with mild respiratory distress or gastrointestinal symtoms. Incarceration of bowel in a retrosternal hernia is unusual with only four reported cases, all in adult patients. This report details an unusual case of complete small bowel obstruction in which the Morgagni hernia sac itself contained the defect through which a portion of small bowel incarcerated as a Richter's hernia.