Repair of intercostal pulmonary herniation
V Fackeldey1, K Junge, D Hinck
1Department of General Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, Central Hospital of the German Armed Forces, Koblenz, Germany. fackelstein@t-online.de
Summary
Pulmonary herniation after blunt chest trauma is rare. Surgical repair using periostal sutures is often sufficient, but PTFE patches may be best for complex cases.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pulmonology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Intercostal pulmonary herniation is a rare consequence of blunt thoracic trauma.
- It can occur years after the initial injury, as seen in this case.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old patient presented with pulmonary herniation two years post-seatbelt injury.
- Surgical intervention involved thoracotomy and closure of the thoracic wall defect.
Findings:
- The defect was successfully repaired using approximating periostal absorbable sutures.
- The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative recovery.
Implications:
- Periostal fixation with absorbable sutures is generally adequate for herniation repair.
- Prosthetic meshes, particularly PTFE, may offer optimal outcomes with minimal complications in complex cases.
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