Repair of intercostal pulmonary herniation

Thoracoscopic management of incarcerated lung herniation after blunt chest trauma: a case report and literature review

Traumatic lung herniation is a rare condition that is usually treated with thoracotomy and pericostal fixation of adjacent ribs with sutures. We described a traumatic lung herniation case successfully managed with hernia reduction and double-layered repair of the intrathoracic defect, completed via a total thoracoscopic approach.

Traumatic herniation of the lung

We present a relatively rare clinical presentation of herniation of lung parenchyma. In our case, the patient suffered multiple rib fractures, with an intercostal herniation of lung tissue after a trauma. We opted for a conservative treatment, given the clinical presentation, and the absence of incarceration or strangulation of the pulmonary tissue. In the absence of clear guidelines for this rare presentation, current treatment can be conservative or surgical, depending on the clinical presentation.

Two cases of lung herniation treated by surgery or observation

Lung herniation is rare. We describe two cases; one cured by surgery, and the other observed without surgery. A 61-year-old man underwent minimally invasive cardiac surgery for mitral valve plasty. Four weeks postoperatively, chest computed tomography (CT) revealed exacerbating lung herniation and emergency surgery was performed. A 75-year-old man with metastatic tumor underwent partial resection of the left lower lobe through a 10-cm access window. Three months postoperatively, follow-up chest CT revealed prolapse of a small part of the upper lobe at the site of incision. However, he remained asymptomatic and was observed on an outpatient basis.

Transdiaphragmatic Intercostal Herniation following Blunt Trauma

Intercostal herniation is very rarely and sporadically reported in the literature. Intercostal hernia can occur following blunt trauma and may be associated with rib fractures. We present a case of a patient who presented with rib fractures, diaphragmatic rupture, and intrathoracic herniation of abdominal contents with subsequent herniation of both lung and abdominal contents through an intercostal defect. The patient was successfully treated with primary surgical repair of the diaphragm and intercostal hernia. The presentation, pathophysiology, and management of this rare clinical entity are discussed.

Management of pulmonary hernia through a flail segment in closed thoracic trauma using open reduction, internal fixation and pectoralis major flap reconstruction: A case report

The present article reports on the successful management of a large flail chest with traumatic pulmonary herniation in a patient who could not be weaned from mechanical ventilation following a course of conservative management. Surgical intervention involved open reduction and internal fixation with tubular plates to stabilize the flail segment, followed by a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap to repair the chest wall defect. Following surgical intervention, the patient was able to be weaned from mechanical ventilation and showed remarkable improvement in pulmonary function parameters. To the authors' knowledge, the present report is the first to describe the use of open reduction and internal fixation of the chest wall and flap reconstruction to treat lung herniation with a flail chest segment.

Incisional intercostal hernia after a nephrectomy

The aim of the present case report is to present the diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of intercostal incisional hernia. We report on a female patient with leftsided intercostal incisional hernia between the eleventh and twelfth rib due to preceding lumbar incision for tumor nephrectomy. Because of its infrequence, diagnosis was established late although simple clinical examination and ultrasound investigation displayed the hernia. At laparotomy, a 5x5 cm(2) fascial defect with a colonic sliding hernia was found. Hernia repair using permanent mesh reinforcement in the retromuscular position is described. Abdominal incisional hernia in the intercostal region is rare and therefore easily overlooked. As with other incisional hernias, the hernia repair using mesh implantation in the retromuscular region is technically feasible and represents the treatment of choice.