The efficacy of autologous blood patch pleurodesis for prolonged air leak after anatomical lung resection.

Background: Prolonged air leak (PAL) is a well-known issue that frequently results in extended hospitalization following pulmonary lobectomy. There have been many suggestions for preventing air leaks, but no one method has yet achieved definitive success. The purpose of this research was to determine the efficacy of autologous blood patch pleurodesis (ABPP) to treat PAL.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 60 patients aged ≥ 18 years, involving both sexes, with PAL after pulmonary lobectomy. Patients were categorized into two groups: group A received ABPP for PAL, and group B did not receive ABPP.

Results: Group A had a significantly lower invasive procedure rate than group B (P = 0.023). The incidence of reoperation was not significantly different between the two groups. Ten (33.33%) patients in group B required computed tomography (CT) scans to identify the residual air pockets, of whom six (20%) patients treated with bronchoscopy and CT-guided chest drain insertion in the residual air pocket. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of chest tube removal after surgery was 7.77 ± 1.52 days in group A and 9.53 ± 3.48 days in group B (P = 0.014). Group A had a significantly shorter hospital stay after surgery than group B (P < 0.05). In linear regression, the amount of blood used was an independent predictor of chest tube removal after surgery (P = 0.003), while age, smoking, global initiative for obstructive lung disease, diabetes mellitus, and the Charlson comorbidity index were not.

Conclusions: ABPP is a prompt, safe, and successful method to treat post-lobectomy PAL, which shortens the time patients spend in the hospital and allows for the early removal of chest tubes.

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