LUNG HERNIA

Lung hernia is an uncommon entity usually resulting from trauma or ina dequate healing from recent or remote thoracic surgery. A small percen tage may be congenital, Four cases are reported, each demonstrating lu ng herniation resulting from either accidental or postsurgical trauma. Most of the previous cases have been reviewed in various surgical and radiological journals with only rare mention in the emergency medicin e literature, Because emergency physicians may be the most immediate c ontact for patients who develop a lung herniation, they should be cogn izant of this entity as a possible delayed complication to chest wall injury. Awareness of the clinical and radiological appearance of lung hernia will help to avoid its confusion with other conditions such as subcutaneous emphysema, chest tumor, pneumothorax, or a focus of infec tion. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.