Spontaneous diaphragmatic rupture as a complication following lung transplantation

Abstract

Spontaneous diaphragm rupture is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, requiring urgent surgical intervention. Here we present two patients who developed spontaneous right hemidiaphragm rupture with abdominal visceral herniation into the thoracic cavity several days following bilateral lung transplantation, as an unusual complication. Both patients' surgeries were performed through bilateral anterior thoracotomies and were uneventful. There may be an association with this complication and patients suffering with emphysema, typically receiving donor lungs smaller than their native lungs, and with significant pretransplant exposure to steroids, factors that when combined may contribute to an increased risk of spontaneous diaphragmatic rupture in the absence of a significant precipitant. If a similar clinical picture is seen, teams managing lung transplant recipients should be aware of this potential complication and recognize the need for urgent intervention.