Prolonged air leak after lung surgery: prediction, prevention and management

[摘要] Prolonged air leak (PAL) after lung anatomical resection remains a long-unsolved problem. After the advent of minimally invasive thoracic surgery (MITS) and the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) era, PAL significantly burdens the postoperative course (1). Often the average hospital stay is less than 5 days, so the appearance of PAL can prolong it. Even in the presence of PAL, patients are increasingly discharged home early with a thoracic drainage system (2,3). Some studies have shown in these patients an increase in hospital readmissions and costs (4,5). PAL after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) anatomical resections has a high clinical and economic impact and should be avoided. Prevention plays a fundamental role.

[学科分类] 呼吸医学