Advancements in the Management of Postoperative Air Leak following Thoracic Surgery: From Traditional Practices to Innovative Therapies.

Background: Postoperative air leak (PAL) is a frequent and potentially serious complication following thoracic surgery, characterized by the persistent escape of air from the lung into the pleural space. It is associated with extended hospitalizations, increased morbidity, and elevated healthcare costs. Understanding the mechanisms, risk factors, and effective management strategies for PAL is crucial in improving surgical outcomes. Aim: This review seeks to synthesize all known data concerning PAL, including its etiology, risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and the range of available treatments from conservative measures to surgical interventions, with a special focus on the use of autologous plasma. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search of databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies and reviews published on PAL following thoracic surgery. The selection criteria aimed to include articles that provided insights into the incidence, mechanisms, risk assessment, diagnostic methods, and treatment options for PAL. Special attention was given to studies detailing the use of autologous plasma in managing this complication. Results: PAL is influenced by a variety of patient-related, surgical, and perioperative factors. Diagnosis primarily relies on clinical observation and imaging, with severity assessments guiding management decisions. Conservative treatments, including chest tube management and physiotherapy, serve as the initial approach, while persistent leaks may necessitate surgical intervention. Autologous plasma has emerged as a promising treatment, offering a novel mechanism for enhancing pleural healing and reducing air leak duration, although evidence is still evolving. Conclusions: Effective management of PAL requires a multifaceted approach tailored to the individual patient's needs and the specifics of their condition. Beyond the traditional treatment approaches, innovative treatment modalities offer the potential to improve outcomes for patients experiencing PAL after thoracic surgery. Further research is needed to optimize treatment protocols and integrate new therapies into clinical practice.

A Comparison of the Efficacies of OK-432 and Talc Slurry for Pleurodesis in Patients with Prolonged Air Leak after Pulmonary Resection.

PURPOSE: A prolonged air leak (PAL) is one of the common postoperative complications of pulmonary resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pleurodesis with sterile talc or OK-432 for postoperative air leak. METHODS: Patients with postoperative air leak who received chemical pleurodesis using sterile talc or OK-432 were retrospectively identified from medical records data. For pleurodesis with either agent, prior assessment and approval by the hospital safety department were carried out for each case, in addition to individual consent. RESULTS: Between February 2016 and June 2022, 39 patients had PALs and underwent chemical pleurodesis. Among them, 24 patients received pleurodesis with talc (Talc group) and 15 with OK-432 (OK-432 group). The leak resolved after less than two pleurodesis treatments in 22 patients (91.7%) in the Talc group compared with 14 patients (93.3%) in the OK-432 group. Pleurodesis significantly increased white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein concentration, and body temperature in the OK-432 group compared with that in the Talc group (p <0.001, p = 0.003, and p <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Pleurodesis with talc may be an effective treatment option for postoperative air leak. Our findings suggest that talc was as effective as OK-432 and resulted in a milder systemic inflammatory response.

Suitable Patient Selection and Optimal Timing of Treatment for Persistent Air Leak after Lung Resection.

OBJECTIVES: The choice of therapeutic intervention for postoperative air leak varies between institutions. We aimed to identify the optimal timing and patient criteria for therapeutic intervention in cases of postoperative air leaks after lung resection. METHODS: This study utilized data from a prospective multicenter observational study conducted in 2019. Among the 2187 cases in the database, 420 cases with air leaks on postoperative day 1 were identified. The intervention group underwent therapeutic interventions, such as pleurodesis or surgery, while the observation group was monitored without intervention. A comparison between the intervention group and the observation group were analyzed using the cumulative distribution and hazard functions. RESULTS: Forty-six patients (11.0%) were included in the intervention group. The multivariate analysis revealed that low body mass index (p = 0.019), partial resection (p = 0.010), intraoperative use of fibrin glue (p = 0.008), severe air leak on postoperative day 1 (p < 0.001), and high forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p = 0.021) were significant predictors of the requirement for intervention. The proportion of patients with persistent air leak in the observation group was 20% on postoperative day 5 and 94% on postoperative day 7. The hazard of air leak cessation peaked from postoperative day 3 to postoperative day 7. CONCLUSIONS: This research contributes valuable insights into predicting therapeutic interventions for postoperative air leaks and identifies scenarios where spontaneous cessation is probable. A validation through prospective studies is warranted to affirm these findings.

Extubation by supraglottic airway after lobectomy prevents cough-associated air leaks and prolonged coughing or sore throat.

OBJECTIVES: Double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLTs) are essential for differential lung ventilation during pulmonary lobectomy, but they are more rigid, longer, larger in diameter and irritable. Coughing at extubation sometimes causes airway and lung injury, which causes severe air leaks, prolonged cough and sore throat. We examined the prevalence of cough-associated air leaks at extubation and postoperative cough or sore throat after lobectomy and evaluated the efficacy of supraglottic airway (SGA) in preventing these complications. METHODS: Patient characteristics and operative and postoperative factors data were collected from patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy between January 2013 and March 2022. After propensity score matching, these data were compared between the SGA and DLT groups. RESULTS: A total of 1069 patients with lung cancer (SGA, 641; DLTs, 428) were enrolled and coughing at extubation occurred in 100 (23.4%) patients in the DLT group, 65 (65.0%) showed increased cough-associated air leaks at extubation and 20 (30.8%) showed prolonged air leaks. Coughing at extubation occurred in 6 (0.9%) in the SGA group. In 193 patients from each group after propensity score matching, coughing at extubation and the associated air leak increase were significantly lower in the SGA group. Visual analogue scale of postoperative cough and sore throat on postoperative days 2, 7 and 30 were significantly lower in the SGA group. CONCLUSIONS: SGA is effective and safe for preventing cough-associated air leaks and prolonged postoperative cough or sore throat at extubation following pulmonary lobectomy.

Conventional and digital pleural drainage systems - advantages and disadvantages.

INTRODUCTION: Pleural cavity drainage is a crucial component of the surgical management of patients with various chest diseases. Digital drainage systems are increasingly used in contemporary thoracic surgical procedure, which is likely a result of their effectiveness in achieving early postoperative ambulation, cutting down on hospital stays and lowering costs. The vast majority of thoracic surgeons worldwide prefer digital drainage systems to traditional ones. The advantages of the former, however, are disputed by some researchers.

Rapid development and rupture of a pneumatocele caused by pulmonary dissection in the early postoperative period of lung resection: a case report.

Air leakage after lung resection is a common complication usually caused by direct injury to the lung parenchyma. Herein we illustrate a case of pneumatocele that developed rapidly in the right middle lobe and ruptured 16 days after right upper lobectomy. A 73-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy and partial thymectomy for primary lung cancer and thymic nodules, respectively. Although a small amount of air leakage was observed after the operation, air leakage completely improved on postoperative day (POD) 2, and the chest drain tube was removed on POD 3. The patient's condition was complicated with eosinophilic pneumonia. Steroid therapy was started on POD 13. Dyspnea suddenly developed immediately after defecation on POD 16. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large pneumatocele in the right middle lobe, which was not found by CT scan on POD 11. He underwent reoperation on POD 20, and a large thick-walled pneumatocele in the right middle lobe was directly sewn. Histopathologically, the wall of bulla consisted of thickened visceral pleura and thin lung parenchyma, suggesting that this pneumatocele was induced by dissection of subpleural lung parenchyma.

Rapid development and rupture of a pulmonary cyst in the early postoperative period after pulmonary resection: A case report.

Air leakage is a common complication after pulmonary resection, which is usually caused by direct lung damage during surgery. Herein, we describe a case in which a pulmonary cyst developed rapidly in the right lower lobe and ruptured 10 days after right upper lobectomy. A 49-year-old man, who was a heavy smoker, underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy for primary lung cancer. No air leakage was observed postoperatively, and the chest drain tube was removed on postoperative day 1. Although his postoperative course was uneventful for more than a week, extensive subcutaneous emphysema developed unexpectedly on postoperative day 10. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large pulmonary cyst in the right lower lobe that was not present before the right upper lobectomy. Surgery was performed on postoperative day 13, and it revealed a large thick-walled pulmonary cyst in the right lower lobe. The cyst was filled with blood clots, and air leaks were observed inside it, suggesting that the dissection of the pulmonary parenchyma caused its development. The cyst wall was sutured together with the pulmonary parenchyma, and no air leakage was subsequently observed. KEY POINTS: Significant findings of the study In patients with fragile pulmonary tissue, the pulmonary parenchyma may become dissociated after pulmonary resection and induce rapid development of a pulmonary cyst. Risk factors for pulmonary cyst development include upper lobectomy and emphysema. Pulmonary cysts are often formed in the lower lobe. What this study adds In patients with pulmonary emphysema post-upper lobectomy, the fragility of the pulmonary parenchyma and hyperinflation of the remaining lung may cause dissection of the pulmonary parenchyma, resulting in massive air leakage.

Prevention of Postoperative Prolonged Air Leak After Pulmonary Resection.

Postoperative prolonged air leaks (PALs) occur after thoracic surgery in which lung parenchyma is resected, divided, or manipulated. These air leaks can place patients at risk for intensive care unit readmissions, longer hospital length of stay, and infectious complications. Studies have been conducted to identify patients who are at risk for air leak and several methods have been examined for the prevention and treatment of PALs. A standard method of air leak prevention or treatment has not been established. This article discusses the prophylactic measures that have been studied for the prevention of PALs following lung surgery.

When to Remove a Chest Tube.

Despite the increasing knowledge about the pleural physiology after lung resection, most practices around chest tube removal are dictated by personal preferences and experience. This article discusses recently published data on the topic and suggests opportunities for further investigation and future improvements.

Prospective evaluation of biodegradable polymeric sealant for intraoperative air leaks.

BACKGROUND: A biodegradable polymeric sealant has been previously shown to reduce postoperative air leaks after open pulmonary resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy during minimally invasive pulmonary resection. METHODS: In a multicenter prospective single-arm trial, 112 patients with a median age of 69 years (range 34-87 years) were treated with sealant for at least one intraoperative air leak after standard methods of repair (sutures, staples or cautery) following minimally invasive pulmonary resection (Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) or Robotic-Assisted). Patients were followed in hospital and 1 month after surgery for procedure-related and device-related complications and presence of air leak. RESULTS: Forty patients had VATS and 72 patients had Robotic-Assisted procedures with the majority (80/112, 71%) undergoing anatomic resection (61 lobectomy, 13 segmentectomy, 6 bilobectomy). There were no device-related adverse events. The overall morbidity rate was 41% (46/112), with major complications occurring in 16.1% (18/112). In-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality were 1.9% (2/103). The majority of intraoperative air leaks (107/133, 81%) were sealed after sealant application, and an additional 16% (21/133) were considered reduced. Forty-nine percent of patients (55/112) were free of air leak throughout the entire postoperative study period. Median chest tube duration was 2 days (range 1 - 46 days), and median length of hospitalization was 3 days (range 1 - 20 days). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that use of a biodegradable polymer for closure of intraoperative air leaks as an adjunct to standard methods is safe and effective following minimally invasive pulmonary resection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01867658 . Registered 3 May 2013.

The anticipation and management of air leaks and residual spaces post lung resection.

The incidence of any kind of air leaks after lung resections is reportedly around 50% of patients. The majority of these leaks doesn't require any specific intervention and ceases within a few hours or days. The recent literature defines a prolonged air leak (PAL) as an air leak lasting beyond postoperative day 5. PAL is associated with a generally worse outcome with a more complicated postoperative course anxd prolonged hospital stay and increased costs. Some authors therefore consider any PAL as surgical complication. PAL is the most prevalent postoperative complication following lung resection and the most important determinant of postoperative length of hospital stay. A low predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (ppoFEV1) and upper lobe disease have been identified as significant risk factors involved in developing air leaks. Infectious conditions have also been reported to increase the risk of PAL. In contrast to the problem of PAL, there is only limited information from the literature regarding apical spaces after lung resection, probably because this common finding rarely leads to clinical consequences. This article addresses the pathogenesis of PAL and apical spaces, their prediction, prevention and treatment with a special focus on surgery for infectious conditions. Different predictive models to identify patients at higher risk for the development of PAL are provided. The discussion of surgical treatment options includes the use of pneumoperitoneum, blood patch, intrabronchial valves (IBV) and the flutter valve, and addresses the old question, whether or not to apply suction to chest tubes. The discussed prophylactic armentarium comprises of pleural tenting, prophylactic intraoperative pneumoperitoneum, sealing of the lung, buttressing of staple lines, capitonnage after resection of hydatid cysts, and plastic surgical options.