Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013; 61(03): 258-260
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1299581
Special Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sternal Dehiscence Accompanied by Protrusion of the Left Lung Through the Chest Wall

Sezai Celik
1   Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medicana Camlica Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Onur Gurer
1   Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medicana Camlica Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Cuneyt Aydemir
2   Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medicana Camlica Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

17 August 2011

29 September 2011

Publication Date:
01 March 2012 (online)

Abstract

We report an almost complete protrusion of the lung through the anterior chest wall occurring as a complication following sternal dehiscence. Emergency treatment is mandatory since it has a high potential for incarceration, hemopneumothorax, respiratory failure, and infection. Twenty-eight days after coronary by-pass surgery, the left lung of a 66-year-old male patient almost completely protruded through the sternotomy incision in the chest wall; the lung tissue was successfully reduced and the sternotomy was closed. Recurrence was not observed within the 6-month follow-up period, his general condition was good. The clinical course of the patient was retrospectively reviewed, and this case was reported with a unique complication.

 
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