When positioning matters: postoperative obstructive atelectasis and lung collapse following a lumbar hernia repair

This is a case of a woman in her late 50s who underwent an elective robotic-assisted transabdominal preperitoneal lumbar hernia repair complicated by immediate postoperative obstructive atelectasis. The patient required intubation and emergent bronchoscopy after failing pulmonary physiotherapy and bronchodilators. This case highlights a significant but under-recognised complication associated with prolonged lateral positioning during minimally invasive surgery.