Delayed pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax complicating laparoscopic extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair

A 53-year-old healthy man underwent elective laparoscopic, extraperitoneal, right-sided herniorrhaphy. Postoperatively, he complained of chest pain on inspiration. Chest x-ray and computed tomographic scan revealed a pneumomediastinum and a right-sided pneumothorax. Previous case reports and possible etiologies are reviewed.