Two Case Reports of Internal Herniation into the Retrosternal Space After Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

We report two rare cases of internal herniation into the retrosternal route that developed after minimally invasive esophagectomy, with one case developing recurrence after reoperation. First case: A 79–year–old man presented with a history of nausea and epigastric pain 2 years 9 months after surgery. We made the diagnosis of internal herniation into the retrosternal space, with no ischemic changes of the incarcerated small intestine. Second case: A 69–year–old woman complained of epigastric pain on postoperative day 3. We made the diagnosis of internal herniation into the retrosternal space, with no ischemic changes of the incarcerated the transverse colon. We performed emergency surgery for both cases on the same day that they presented to the hospital. The herniated contents were easily reducible, and we repaired the hernias. The postoperative course was good in both cases. However, the 79–year–old man (first case) presented with a recurrence 3 months after the reoperation.