Conservative Management of Traumatic Intercostal Lung Hernia: A Case Report

Abstract

Pulmonary herniation is an uncommon phenomenon. It has been described sporadically in obscure case reports and rare case series. Owing to its sparse occurrence, a calibrated algorithm for its management does not exist. Even then, the popular consensus advises surgical management comprising prosthetic mesh repair. Hereby, authors report a case of a 24-year-old male, who developed left lung herniation after blunt trauma to the chest wall. Non Contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT) of chest revealed herniation of left lung through 3rd intercostal space, a hernia defect of 1.8 cm and a small left pneumothorax. Patient was managed conservatively with intercostal drainage and was discharged on day 5 of admission. This case report aims to delineate the conditions where conservative management of lung hernias can be undertaken successfully.