Intrapericardial Colon

This image-based case report describes a 54-year-old woman who presented with palpitations that were relieved by passing gas or having a bowel movement. Her medical history included constrictive pericarditis treated 15 years prior with pericardial drainage. CT imaging with contrast revealed her transverse colon had herniated into the pericardial cavity, a rare condition known as intrapericardial colon, a subtype of diaphragmatic hernia. Calcification of the pericardium was also noted. The herniation was attributed to her prior pericardial procedure. She underwent laparoscopic surgery to reposition the colon and repair the diaphragm using silicone mesh. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and she remained asymptomatic at 1-year follow-up.

This image-based case report describes a 54-year-old woman who presented with palpitations that were relieved by passing gas or having a bowel movement. Her medical history included constrictive pericarditis treated 15 years prior with pericardial drainage. CT imaging with contrast revealed her transverse colon had herniated into the pericardial cavity, a rare condition known as intrapericardial colon, a subtype of diaphragmatic hernia. Calcification of the pericardium was also noted. The herniation was attributed to her prior pericardial procedure. She underwent laparoscopic surgery to reposition the colon and repair the diaphragm using silicone mesh. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and she remained asymptomatic at 1-year follow-up.