Cardiac herniation following pneumonectomy--an old complication revisited

Cardiac herniation is a recognised complication of pneumonectomy when a pericardial defect has been made during resection. This complication is very rare and, with the increasing preference for more limited resections, is even less frequently encountered now than it was several decades ago. Uncorrected cardiac herniation is usually lethal, with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality even after correction. We present a case of left-sided cardiac herniation following intrapericardial pneumonectomy to illustrate the difficulty of making this rare diagnosis. Aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical picture and diagnosis of cardiac herniation are reviewed. We also describe the treatment and prevention of this serious complication. Cardiac herniation should be considered in any patient with acute deterioration after pneumonectomy.