This randomized controlled trial compared chest drain management with (at -20 cmH2O) versus without (at -8 cmH2O) suction after lung resection using a digital system. Avoiding suction (-8 cmH2O) significantly shortened chest tube duration without affecting hospital stay or prolonged air leak rates. Continuous suction was independently associated with delayed…
Read more »This large single‑center 25‑year cohort study confirms that lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) significantly improves lung function with low perioperative mortality. Prolonged air leak was the most frequent complication, affecting over 25% of patients and requiring reintervention in a subset. These findings highlight persistent air‑leak burden as a key determinant…
Read more »This GRADE‑based consensus provides evidence‑informed recommendations for managing postoperative prolonged air leaks after lung surgery. Key guidance includes standardized air‑leak assessment, preference for digital drainage systems, and individualized selection between water seal and suction based on leak severity and clinical context. A stepwise framework (digital monitoring, tailored drainage strategy, and…
Read more »This prospective cohort study evaluated the impact of preoperative ventilation single-photon emission computed tomography combined with computed tomography (vSPECT/CT) for surgical management of prolonged air leak. vSPECT/CT accurately localized air leaks and was associated with significantly shorter chest tube duration and hospital stay compared with matched controls. By enabling targeted…
Read more »This multicenter Canadian study quantified the in‑hospital costs of adverse events after lobectomy. Prolonged air leak (PAL) – a key determinant of chest drain duration – accounted for over 50% of all complications and was the dominant cost driver, contributing substantially to excess hospital costs. With a mean PAL incidence…
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