Herniation of the lung following video-assisted minithoracotomy

Intercostal pulmonary hernia is a rare finding in surgical practice. The hernia presents as an elastic expansion on the outer surface of the chest wall that is usually easily reducible. The protrusion increases in size during expiration and decreases, or disappears, during inspiration. Usually there are no other symptoms. We describe a man who developed a thoracic herniation of the lung 2 1/2 months after a video-assisted minithoracotomy. A concise review of the literature is included.