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Description
Pulmonary hernia refers to the protrusion of pulmonary parenchyma with pleural membranes through a defect in the thoracic wall. It was originally described in 1499 by Ronald iand in 1847, Morel-Lavelle classified pulmonary hernias as either congenital or acquired.1 The majority (80%) of acquired hernias occur as a consequence of trauma.2 Spontaneous pulmonary hernia (SPH) due to coughing is a result of the associated increased intrathoracic pressure and is common in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the setting of hyperinflation and possible long-term steroid therapy. The role for surgical repair is controversial, but indications for surgical intervention include increasing size, refractory pain or incarceration.3 However, the majority of cases follow a benign course and can be managed conservatively.
Herein, we describe a case of SPH managed conservatively and report the use of ultrasonography (US) in identifying the thoracic wall defect.
A 65-year-old man with a history of asthma presented with a 1-week history of cough productive of purulent sputum, increasing dyspnoea and wheeze. The day prior to presentation, he had haemoptysis and developed severe left pleuritic chest pain. His vitals were stable at presentation, and auscultation of his lung fields revealed diffuse expiratory wheeze. Chest radiograph showed evidence of hyperinflation with no consolidation. His D-dimer was elevated at 1.99 mg/L (0–0.5 mg/L).
He proceeded to CT pulmonary angiogram, which showed no evidence of pulmonary embolism and demonstrated a pulmonary hernia, protruding at the eighth intercostal space (figure 1A–D). US of the chest wall located a tear in the intercostal muscles (figure 2A), identified by the slightly enlarged intercostal space and hypoechoic and disorganised muscle (arrow, figure 2A), as compared with a normal seventh intercostal space (figure 2B). No protrusion of underlying lung tissue was seen as the pulmonary hernia had reduced. The patient was managed conservatively and treated with antibiotics, steroids and nebulised bronchodilators for his infective exacerbation. He was asymptomatic at 6 weeks’ follow-up.
Learning points
Spontaneous pulmonary hernia is rare but should be considered in the differential diagnosis in a patient with vigorous coughing and pleuritic chest pain with unremarkable chest radiograph.
Diagnosis can be confirmed with chest CT, but ultrasonography is a useful, cheap and ubiquitous tool that can assist in confirming the defect.
Management is usually conservative.
Footnotes
Contributors AMOM, KMM, TMOC and DRC: planning, conception and design of the paper. KMM: imaging interpretation and supply of images. AMOM: final draft preparation. DRC: review of the draft and supervision of the paper.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent for publication Next of kin consent obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.