Incidence and Identifying Preoperative Risk Factors of Prolonged Air Leak after Lung Resection

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

2 Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Prolonged air leak (PAL) is a common complication following pulmonary resection and associated with empyema, increases the length of hospital stay, and health-care costs. Several techniques developed to mitigate the risk of PAL, but for their use to be efficient, identification of patients at risk for PAL is necessary. Aim of Work: To identify preoperative risk factors and the incidence of PAL after lung resection. Patients and Methods: A prospective cohort study included 18 patients underwent lung resection. The following variables screened for a possible association with PAL; age, sex, BMI, smoking status, a preoperative serum albumin level, HB, DM, chemotherapy induction, a preoperative steroid use, the location and type of lung resection, and cause of resection. Results: The incidence of PAL after lung resection among our study group was 27.8%. Preoperative risk factors were age (59.2±8.75 years) (P=0.031) and upper site resection (P=0.013). Conclusion: The incidence of PAL after lung resection among our study group was 27.8%. The old-age patients and upper site resection were the most significant preoperative risk factors associated with PAL in this limited small sample size study.

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