Persistent air leak after pulmonary transplantation

Autologous "blood patch" pleurodesis for persistent pulmonary air leak.

A persistent pulmonary air leak, whether as a result of pulmonary surgery or as a result of a traumatic or spontaneous pneumothorax, is a difficult and frustrating problem to manage. Several therapies have been employed, including thoracotomy and repair of the air leak, prolonged tube thoracostomy suction, and chemical pleurodesis. We report two cases in which patients with a prolonged air leak...

Postoperative air leak grading is useful to predict prolonged air leak after pulmonary lobectomy

BACKGROUND Results of studies to predict prolonged air leak (PAL; air leak longer than 5 days) after pulmonary lobectomy have been inconsistent and are of limited use. We developed a new scale representing the amount of early postoperative air leak and determined its correlation with air leak duration and its potential as a predictor of PAL. METHODS We grade postoperative air leak using a 5-g...

Pulmonary Capillary Leak Syndrome

Endobronchial valves for persistent postoperative pulmonary air leak: accurate monitoring and functional implications.

An alveolar-pleural fistula is a communication between the pulmonary parenchyma distal to a segmental bronchus and the pleural space. A postoperative pulmonary expiratory air leak after an anatomic pulmonary resection is usually managed conservatively. The use of endobronchial valves is a minimal invasive method that may be effective for the treatment of a persistent postoperative pulmonary air...

Reduction of persistent air leak with endoscopic valve implants.

The standard management of air leaks due to persistent bronchopleural fistula involves chest drainage and occasionally pleurodesis, with intractable cases requiring surgical decortication or surgical repair. However, some of these patients may be at high risk for surgery, particularly if they have already had thoracic surgery or have other medical problems; for this group there is a need for le...