We report a case of apical lung herniation through the superior thoracic aperture of an obese child using nocturnal CPAP. Lung herniation has been described in association with congenital thoracic abnormalities and elevated intra-thoracic pressure, such as trauma. This patient was hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia and required nocturnal CPAP for treatment of concurrent obstructive sleep apnea. Her lung hernia was discovered incidentally on routine follow-up chest radiography and resolved with cessation of CPAP treatment. Lung herniation in association with the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has not been previously described.
Keywords: continuous positive airway pressure; lung hernia; obstructive sleep apnea; pulmonary hernia; sleep-disordered breathing.
© 2016 American Academy of Sleep Medicine