Pneumomediastinum as a complication of extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

A 52-year-old man with left indirect groin hernia was admitted for elective inguinal repair using the totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approach. After an uneventful intubation, TEP repair of the hernia was performed with three midline trocars. Immediately after extubation, the patient noted severe chest pain. There was a decrease in PaO2 saturation, and neck subcutaneous emphysema was detected. There was no emphysema of the abdomen or of the back. A chest film and thoracic computed tomographic (CT) scan confirmed the presence of pneumomediastinum without pneumothorax. The patient was discharged without complications.