Reduction of Pulmonary Air Leaks with a Combination of Polyglycolic Acid Sheet and Alginate Gel in Rats

Postoperative air leaks remain a major cause of morbidity after lung resection. This study evaluated the effect of a combination of polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet and alginate gel on pulmonary air leaks in rats. Four pulmonary sealing materials were evaluated in lung injury: fibrin glue, combination of PGA sheet and fibrin glue, alginate gel, and combination of PGA sheet and alginate gel. With the airway pressure maintained at 20 cmH2O, a 2 mm deep puncture wound was created on the lung surface using a needle. Lowering the airway pressure to 5 cmH2O, each sealing material was applied. The lowest airway pressure that broke the seal was measured. The seal-breaking pressure in each experimental group was fibrin, 10.4 ± 6.8 cmH2O; PGA + fibrin, 13.5 ± 6.5 cmH2O; alginate gel, 10.3 ± 4.9 cmH2O; and PGA + alginate, 35.8 ± 11.9 cmH2O, respectively. The seal-breaking pressure was significantly greater in the PGA + alginate gel group than in the other groups (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences among the other three groups. Alginate gel combined with a PGA sheet is a promising alternative to fibrin glue as a safe and low-cost material for air leak prevention in pulmonary surgery.