Purpose: Postoperative air leakage remains the most common pulmonary
complication after resection of the lung. The objective of this study was to evaluate the
postoperative efficacy of a new surgical patch for the sealing of alveolar air leakage in
patients undergoing elective pulmonary lobectomy.
Methods: Patients scheduled for standard lobectomy were included in this prospective,
open-label, randomized controlled study, conducted at 12 European university
hospitals. Following thoracotomy, lobectomy, and primary stapling, patients with
intraoperative air leak grade 1-2 (water submersion test; Macchiarini et al, 1999) were
randomized to a sealing patch (SP) or additional standard surgical treatment, i.e.,
suturing and further stapling (STD). Assessment of postoperative air leakage was
performed twice daily until chest drain removal.
Results: A total of 301 patients were included and randomized, of whom 299 received
trial treatment (SP: 149; STD: 150). Mean age was 64 years (33-83 years), 67% were
males and 33% females. Preoperatively, the treatment groups were well-balanced
regarding mean BMI (25.8 vs 26.1 kg/m2), mean FEV-1 (2.48 vs 2.50 L), mean TLC
(6.17 vs. 6.14 L) and mean RV (2.65 vs 2.61 L) for SP and STD, respectively. At the
end of surgery, 68.2% of SP and 42.4% of STD patients were air leak free (OR 5.27
[95% CI: 1.26-21.96]; p=0.022; ITT). The duration of postoperative air leakage was
significantly shorter in SP compared with STD patients (p=0.030; log-rank test). The
proportions of patients remaining air leak free at discharge from surgical ward were
29.7% and 19.2% for SP and STD patients, respectively (OR 4.93 [95% CI: 1.33-
18.31]; p=0.017; ITT). The occurrence of adverse events was similar for both
treatments.
Conclusions: The study demonstrated superior efficacy of a sealing patch compared
with standard surgical treatment for sustained sealing of postoperative air leakage
following pulmonary lobectomy