Introduction

Lung herniation is a rare and scarcely described entity in the literature, defined as expansion of pulmonary tissue beyond the pleural cavity through a chest wall defect. Most reports describe post traumatic lung herniation mostly as a late complication of thoracic trauma. However, lung herniation, is also described as a rare complication following cardiothoracic surgery.

We present 2 cases of post-surgical lung herniation, who underwent mini-transthoracic (mini-TTA) surgery for removal of thoracic herniated discs. Lung herniation as a complication following neurosurgical mini-TTA has not yet been described to our knowledge. We also describe our repairing surgical procedure using a combination of VATS intrathoracic mesh repair and a novel thoracic wall fixation technique with Niti-Rib plates (Nitinol Rib Clip, BIO DISTRIBUTION, Luxemburg) to compensate for the loss of intercostal muscle and widening of the intercostal space and we review the existing literature regarding surgical repair of lung herniation.

Case reports

Patient A was an 85-year-old man presenting with progressive weakness of both legs due to a massive non-calcified herniated disc at T10T11. In December 2019, the patient underwent a left sided mini-TTA with microscopic removal of the herniated disc. The procedure was complicated with minor cerebrospinal fluid leakage for which external lumbar drainage was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged without neurological deficit.

However, after 2 weeks the patient presented with a subcutaneous swelling at the site of the surgery, visible and palpable during coughing, suspected of a cerebrospinal fluid collection. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed pulmonary tissue herniation through the chest wall at the intercostal level of the eighth-ninth rib and no signs of cerebrospinal fluid leakage (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
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Coronal Thoracic CT-scan with left sided pulmonary lung herniating through the eighth intercostal space

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He underwent video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for reconstruction in a right lateral position. Cranially of the scar the defect in the eighth and ninth intercostal space was palpable. Inspection of the thoracic cavity showed the clearly visible defect and some adhesions of the dorsolateral wall (Fig. 2). The defect appeared to be larger than was expected based on the CT. We first inserted an 8 cm Ventralex mesh (Ventralex, Bard, Warwick RI, USA) this, however, left 6 cm of the defect uncovered. With a second overlapping 8 cm ventralex mesh the entire defect was covered. The two meshes were sutured to the thoracic wall. Since both meshes did not decrease the widened intercostal space or could prevent from further rib spreading, a nitinol H-plate was used to approximate the eighth and ninth rib together. Recovery was uncomplicated, and he was discharged on the fifth postoperative day. Follow-up of over one year in the outpatient clinic revealed no complaints or recurrence of lung herniation or widening of the intercostal space on thoracic X-ray. (Figs. 3 and 4).

Fig. 2
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VATS view of dorsolateral thoracic wall clearly showing the intercostal defect (defect) and the hernia-sac after removal of the herniating lung

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Fig. 3
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After reopening the primary incision and 2 VATS portals, NiTi-Rib is correcting the intercostal muscle defect and widening

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Fig. 4
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Post-op Thoracic X-ray in AP view showing the NiTi-Rib in the dorsolateral left positioning and no evidence of recurrence

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Patient B was a 73-year-old woman presenting with leg weakness due to a large medially located non-calcified herniated disc at T10T11. In 2019, an uncomplicated left sided mini-transthoracic approach (mini-TTA) was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, with the patient walking independently after two months.

However, 3 months after surgery, she developed pulmonary complaints with a soft mass at the site of the scar tissue during coughing and Valsalva maneuver. She presented with these complaints at the general surgery department in February 2020. Physical examination revealed an 8 cm, flexible and spontaneously reponable bulging. The actual thoracic wall defect was not easily palpable.

She underwent video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for reconstruction of the right dorsolateral thoracic wall in the ninth intercostal space in a left lateral position. Inspection of the thoracic cavity revealed a large defect (over 10 cm in length) without any intercostal muscle or fascia in the eighth intercostal space and multiple adhesions for which adhesiolysis was performed. We placed a 20 × 10 Sempramesh composite mesh (Sempramesh, Bard, Warwick RI, USA), with 6-point percutaneous suture fixation to the parietal pleura on the inside of the thoracic cavity. To decrease the widened intercostal space and decrease stress on the mesh during coughing and Valsalva, 2 × NiTi-Rib H-plates 20 were placed over the eighth intercostal space defect over the eighth and ninth rib.

Recovery was uncomplicated and she was discharged on the fifth postoperative day, relieved of her symptoms. Follow-up of over one year in the outpatient clinic revealed no complaints or recurrence of lung herniation and good positioning of the NiTi-Rib plates on thoracic X-ray.(Fig. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).

Fig. 5
figure 5

Thoracic X-ray in lateral view showing the proper placement of the NiTi-Rib H-plate and no evidence of recurrence. The white circles show the approximate position of the Ventralex meshes

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Fig. 6
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Thoracic CT-scan showing a right sided large intercostal muscle defect (arrow), filled with extra thoracic fatty tissue (dotted line)

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Fig. 7
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VATS ports and incisions and patient positioned in Left lateral postion

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Fig. 8
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Case B: Post-op Thoracic X-ray in AP view, with the two NiTi-Rib in the right dorsolateral corner

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Fig. 9
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Lateral view showing the proper placement of the NiTi-Rib H-plate and no evidence of recurrence. White dashed line shows the approximate positioning and (crosses) fixation of the Sempramesh

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Discussion

Lung herniation is a rare condition and was first described in 1499, with about 300 cases being published since [1]. Most literature consists of case reports, the majority describing post traumatic lung herniation. Postoperative lung herniation is a known but rare complication after cardiopulmonary thoracic surgery. Since the introduction of minimal invasive video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) procedures, intercostal lung herniation has been documented more often [2].

To our knowledge, lung herniation as a complication of mini-TTA thoracic disc surgery has not been described yet. Our 2 patients are the first cases in the literature and should make surgeons aware of the possible development of lung herniation whenever patients present with postoperative pulmonary complaints.

However, the main issue of postoperative lung herniation is prevention when possible. At the end of the primary procedure, surgeons should focus on repositioning the adjacent ribs with a suture through the cranial and caudal rib followed by reconstruction of the intercostal muscle, when possible. Once a lung herniation has developed, it can be successfully treated by minimal invasive surgery using (part of) the existing scar and one or two small extra video ports.

Literature has described different techniques of surgical repair of lung herniation which can be roughly categorized in 3 groups: primary closure of the defect, repair using periosteal flaps, and third, the use of synthetic materials [3].

Primary closure using VATS was performed for a post traumatic lung herniation where the herniated lung was reduced, and the defect was approximated and sutured [4]. Alternatively, the defect can be repaired using muscular fascia. For larger defects, mesh repair may be required [5].

The repair technique using periosteal flaps was first described in 1933 and was revisited in four cases of traumatic lung hernia. The pleura was closed with sutures, then approximated the superior and inferior flaps, bridging the gap between the ribs. For further stabilization the lower ribs were approximated with absorbable sutures [6] or stainless-steel wires [7].

Most articles describe the use of synthetic materials for the surgical repair of a lung hernia by VATS, similar to repairing an inguinal hernia with a mesh covering the defect. In case of acquired lung hernia occurring through an old anterior thoracotomy scar, VATS was performed through the old scar, and the lung hernia was reduced with dissections and the defect repaired with a Prolene mesh attached with a hernia stapler [8,9,10,11,12]. Alternatively, the mesh can be stabilized by two titanium plates on the ribs [13,14,15]. Other techniques combined synthetic materials with rib reapprochement by suturing [3, 16]. Based on the existing literature, mesh appears to be a safe and successful method of surgical repairment of lung herniations.

Due to the rare occurrence of lung herniation, there is not one preferable method for the repair of lung hernias. All published studies described successful repair techniques, however, with possible publication bias and lack of RCT’s, no evidence-based conclusion can be made. Primary closure and periosteal flaps seem to be sufficient for smaller defects, whereas repair with synthetic materials might be preferred for larger defects [3].

In the presented case reports, we described an alternate surgical technique combining minimal invasive VATS mesh repair and rib fixation. Due to the larger defects and the more lateral location following the mini-TTA procedure, we reapproximated and stabilized the ribs with a NiTi-Rib H-plate. Consequently, the widening of the intercostal space was reduced, and the ribs were secured to prevent displacement of the mesh.

In summary, intercostal lung herniation is a rare complication of a mini-TTA procedure for herniated discs. Based on our 2 cases, intercostal lung herniation can successfully be corrected using mesh material through a VATS technique. For larger defects with intercostal space widening, we recommend additional rib fixation with NiTi-Rib H-plates.