Table 1.
Characteristics of the 90 patients with air leak on the first postoperative day after pulmonary lobectomy
| Factor | n = 90 |
|---|---|
| Male sex | 72 (80%) |
| Age (years) | 67 (44–80) |
| BMI kg/m2 | 21.2 (14.3–30.6) |
| Smoking Index | 900 (0–3000) |
| Never-smoker | 14 (16%) |
| Asbestos exposure | 18 (20%) |
| FEV1.0% | 71.4 (33.9–89.6) |
| DLCO% | 88.1 (55.1–186.6) |
| COPD/IP (%) | 53 (59%) |
| Upper or bilobectomy | 58 (64%) |
| Pleural Adhesion | |
| Major | 14 (16%) |
| Minor | 41 (46%) |
| Duration of air leak (days) | 4 (2–21) |
| Repair air leak during operation | |
| No | 3 (3%) |
| Fibrin glue only | 9 (10%) |
| Suture only | 4 (5%) |
| PGA sheet and fibrin glue | 2 (2%) |
| Suture and fibrin glue | 24 (27%) |
| Suture, PGA and fibrin glue | 48 (53%) |
| Air leak at first postoperative day | |
| Forced expiratory only | 36 (40%) |
| Expiratory only | 42 (47%) |
| Continuous | 12 (13%) |
| Duration of air leakage (days) | 4 (2–21) |
| Duration of drainage (days) | 6 (2–29) |
| Drainage amount in first 5 days (ml) | 1135 (365–2775) |
Results are expressed as median and range.
Abbreviations: BMI body mass index, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, DLCO carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, FEV1.0% forced expiratory volume in 1 s (predicted), IP interstitial pneumonia, Pleural adhesion pleural adhesion covering more than the surface of one lobe was classified as major, and less than the surface of one lobe as minor.