Hernia of the lung.
BACKGROUND
Lung hernia is uncommon and methods of management vary. During the past 17 years, we have seen 8 patients with this condition.


METHODS
Between 1984 and 2000, 8 patients with lung hernias were seen on our service. Three hernias were caused by a thoracic operation, one was due to chronic cough, and in four, the hernia was congenital, with delayed presentation.


RESULTS
Three patients had minimal symptoms and were not operated on. Closure of chest wall in the other patients was accomplished by suture approximation of ribs in 4 patients and by polypropylene mesh in 1 patient. There were no recurrences, and these patients remain asymptomatic.


CONCLUSIONS
Intercostal hernias are usually symptomatic and should be treated by operative closure. In supraclavicular hernias, the symptoms are usually minimal and complications are unlikely. These hernias can be left untreated, but the patients should be followed.
Weissberg
Dov
D
Department of Thoracic Surgery, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel. dovw@ccsg.tau.ac.il
Refaely
Yael
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures