An intrathoracic scapular prolapse with hemorrhagic shock after a thoracotomy

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2011 Feb;12(2):326-7. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2010.248690. Epub 2010 Nov 3.

Abstract

We herein present a case in which an emergency operation was performed for an intrathoracic hemorrhage resulting from a scapular prolapse after a thoracotomy, a rare complication of this procedure. A 59-year-old man had undergone a right upper lobectomy with an extended resection of the posterior chest wall including the second to fourth ribs due to a direct invasion by a lung cancer. On postoperative day 80, we performed an emergency operation as the patient had gone into shock due to an intrathoracic hemorrhage with a right scapular prolapse. The scapula protruded through the enlarged fourth intercostal space. The prolapsed scapula was reduced and the defect in the chest wall was covered with Marlex mesh.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Emergency Treatment / methods
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
  • Prolapse
  • Reoperation / methods
  • Risk Assessment
  • Scapula*
  • Shock, Hemorrhagic / diagnosis
  • Shock, Hemorrhagic / etiology
  • Shock, Hemorrhagic / surgery*
  • Surgical Mesh
  • Thoracic Wall / surgery*
  • Thoracotomy / adverse effects*
  • Thoracotomy / methods
  • Treatment Outcome