Left Hepatic Lobe Herniating through Sternotomy Incision

Introduction: Liver herniation through surgical incision is very rare. Moreover, it is exceptional for the left hepatic lobe to herniate through sternotomy incision.

Presentation of the case: We present herein a 66 year old woman admitted to ER complains about upper abdominal pain. Abdominal CT scan showed herniation of part of left hepatic lobe through previous sternotomy incision. Conservative measures were successful in managing her symptoms.

Discussion: Although it is rare, left hepatic lobe may herniate through sternotomy incision.

Conclusion: Liver herniation through surgical incision is very rare. Moreover, it is exceptional for the left hepatic lobe to herniate through sternotomy incision.

It is very rare for a liver or part of it to be involved in a hernia. Congenital and traumatic diaphragmatic hernias are the most common hernias to contain liver [1,2]. Only few cases of liver herniated through incision of sternotomy were documented in medical literatures [3]. Asymptomatic cases were treated conservatively [3]. While, those with symptoms were treated by surgery to repair the hernia and reduce its content (liver) [4].

We report a 66 year old women presented to ER with upper abdominal pain following heavy meal. The pain was burning in nature, radiates to the back. Associated with nausea. There was no vomiting, fever, chills or itching. She noticed no changes in her bowel habit, color or consistency. She identified a non-painful swelling protruded from her upper abdomen 2 years ago. She is asthmatic, diabetic, had history of myocardial infarction. Three years back she had Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). She is on aspirin, amlodipine, frusemide, Insulin and nebulizer. She is not smoker. Not drinking alcohol.

On examination

She was pale, not jaundiced. Her vital signs were with in normal. By inspection; there was a scar of previous sternotomy extending from the chest to upper part of abdomen. A 6X 6 centimeter mass was protruding from the scar. The mass was soft by palpation. It was not tender .The rest of the abdomen was soft, apart from mild tenderness in epigastric region. Bowel sounds were active.

Laboratory tests revealed

Low Hemoglobin (9.80 gm/dl), low serum iron (5.90 umol/l), high blood sugar (7.8 mmol/l ), high blood Urea (10.70 mmol/l), low Albumin (30.0 gm/l), low serum Calcium ( 2.09 mmol/l), normal T4 Free (15.82 pmol/l), low T3 Free (3.52 pmol/l), high TSH (4.64 mIU/l), high D-Dimer (1.30 mg/l), high Hemoglobin A1c (8.1 %), high C reactive protein (19.9 mg/l), normal liver function test, normal lipase and amylase. Serum electrolytes were with in normal. All the abnormal parameters were corrected. ECG, echocardiography was done for the patient. Then her cardiac problems were managed by the cardiologist. OGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) showed reflux gastritis. This was controlled by proton pump inhibitors.

Computed tomography abdomen revealed herniation of the left lobe of the liver (figure 1, 2) with surrounded fat through a large epigastric defect just below a previous sternotomy incision (figure 1, 2). The herniated part appear iso-dense to the normal liver. Severe intervertebral disc generation seen with possibility of multiple disc prolapse.

After two days of conservative management in hospital, her pain was relieved, her blood sugar was controlled, and her parameters were good. She was discharged home in a good general condition. For the next three months patient was asymptomatic.

Liver hernia is very rare [1,5] (Table 1). Congenital diaphragmatic defects, and blunt trauma diaphragmatic rupture are the most common documented causes resulting in this hernia [2]. Obesity and previous abdominal surgery are other less common causes [6].

Up to May 2015 only three cases have been reported for liver herniation through scar of previous of CABG surgery as in this case [5].

Abdominal pain, discomfort, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, dyspnea, confusion and swelling are the most common presenting symptoms [1-3]. In our case the presenting symptom was abdominal pain.

Left lobe of the liver is the most common part of the liver to herniate through abdominal wall [5]. This hernia may progress to an incarcerated incisional hernia [7,8]. Median sternotomy for coronary artery bypass [3,9] (this is the surgery in this case), midline laparotomy for trauma, intestinal obstruction [7], orthotopic liver transplantation [10], open cholecystectomy [6] and for choledochotomy to remove liver hydatid cyst [11]. Right subcostal incision for open cholecystectomy and right flank incision via a retroperitoneal approach for nephrectomy [8], are the comments operations complicated by liver hernia. Briffaut and colleagues [12] report an entity described in neonatal period known as exclusive hepatocele, in which the liver is part of omphalocele contents.

Transabdominal ultrasound, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging can usually appropriately determine liver as the hernia content [1-35,9,13]. CT scan confirmed left lobe of liver as a content of incisional hernia in our case. Conservative therapy should be considered first in these rare patients, especially asymptomatic patients and those whose symptoms were minimal [3,9]. In this case we were able to control the symptoms with symptomatic treatment. However, surgical therapy may be an option for patients with more severe complaints [7].

Left lobe of liver rarely herniate through abdominal extension of sternotomy incision following CABG (Coronary artery bypass grafting). A CT scan can confirm the diagnosis. Conservative treatment is usually successful.

This study did not receive funding from any external source.

Written consent was obtained from the patient for the publication of this case report.

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