Abstract
Introduction: Lung herniation is a rare condition that protrusion of the lung parenchyma with its pleura caused by defect of the thoracic wall. We present three cases of lung herniation as a complication of videothoracoscopic surgery.
Case: Three patients with the history of videothoracoscopic lung resection for lung cacner, admitted to our clinic at different times with similar complaintments like chest pain, bulge on the chest wall and cought(table). Herniated lung parenchyma was detected in thorax computed tomography. Surgical repair of lung herniation was planned. The postoperative period of all three patients was uneventful.
Discussion: Postoperative lung herniation has reported before as a complication of anterior thoracotomy in literature. Because the thoracic cage has inherent weakness anteriorly, there are an increased risk of lung herniation in anterior thoracotomies. Due to similar causes there are an increased risk in VATS procedures. Some predisposing factors defined in literature like increase intrathoracic pressure such as coughing and strenuous lifting, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory or neoplastic processes and chronic steroid usage.
Asymptomatic lung hernias may be managed by close observation. But because of chronic chest pain and the risk of incarceration and strangulation of the pulmonary parenchyma, surgery is often necessary.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, PA1083.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2019