Complicated spontaneous intercostal lung hernia - A rare clinical case.

Spontaneous lung herniation is a rare pathological entity. We present a case of intercostal type of spontaneous lung hernia after heavy lifting complicated with huge soft tissue hematoma, single rib fracture, hemothorax, diaphragmatic laceration, and great omentum pleural cavity herniation in a 46-year-old man. His comorbidities were arterial hypertension, congestive heart failure, and type II diabetes mellitus and had no history of trauma, surgical procedures in his thoracic wall, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Physical examination revealed a huge left-sided flank hematoma. Chest X-ray determined stable intercostal lung hernia confirmed by chest computed tomography. Conventional approach by left mid-lateral thoracotomy was used for surgical repair of the lung hernia and stabilization of the intercostal space. The patient was discharged on the 9th postoperative day in a good condition. Control examination 2 years after the operation found no deformation of the thorax or recurrence of the lung hernia. This is a case of interest of spontaneous intercostal lung hernia because of the number and type of associated injuries. This case demonstrates low morbidity and good postoperative result by conventional surgery in intercostal lung hernias.

Spontaneous pneumothorax associated with COVID-19 pneumonia: a single-centre retrospective study.

Spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) is a rare complication of COVID-19 pneumonia; it affects both intubated and non-intubated patients. The pathogenesis includes barotrauma and pneumatocele formation. In the following article, we present case series of 18 patients with COVID-19 associated pneumothorax - a detailed demographic and clinical analysis were performed. The study revealed that men were more affected than women, especially above the age of 55 years; whilst, the distribution of intubated patients and those with spontaneous breathing were equal. Importantly, tube thoracostomy was the preferred method of treatment. The lethal outcome was observed in all patients on mechanical ventilation, due to the severe course of the underlying disease. The occurrence of pneumothorax in patients with COVID-19 is associated with poorer outcome of the disease, especially in those placed on mechanical ventilation.