Table 3:
Outcomes of patients after lung resection with air leak in those with or without need for intervention
| Variable name | PAL requiring intervention | PAL not requiring intervention | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| n = 29 | n = 100 | ||
| Outcomes | |||
| Intervention, n (%)
Bedside chest tube Pigtail by interventional radiology Operative intervention |
9 (31.0%) | N/A | N/A |
| 4 (13.8%) | |||
| 16 (55.2 | |||
| Time from index to intervention in days, median (IQR) | 7.5 (6–11) | N/A | N/A |
| Reason for intervention
Air leak Symptomatic pneumothorax Other |
14 (48.3%) 9 (31.0%) 6 (20.7%) |
N/A | N/A |
| Duration of PAL in days, median (IQR) | 18.5 (14–28.5) | 10 (6–16.8) | <0.001 |
| Duration of PAL from intervention in days, median (IQR) | 14 (5–20.5) | N/A | N/A |
| Delay of discharge due to PAL | 17 (58.6%) | 92 (92.0%) | <0.001 |
| Discharged with pneumostat, n (%) | 15 (51.7%) | 39 (39.0%) | 0.447 |
| LOS, days, median (IQR) | 16 (12–22) | 8 (7–11) | <0.001 |
| Days to discharge from intervention, median (IQR) | 8.5 (5–15) | N/A | N/A |
| Discharge disposition, n (%) | |||
| Home | 5 (17.2%) | 16 (16.3%) | |
| Home w/service | 15 (51.7%) | 77 (78.6%) | <0.001 |
| Skilled nursing facility | 2 (6.9%) | 2 (2.0%) | |
| Extended care/rehab | 6 (20.7%) | 3 (3.1%) | |
| Other | 1 (3.5%) | 0 (0.0%) | |
| Complication rate, n (%)a | |||
| Overallb | 21 (72.4%) | 39 (39.0%) | <0.001 |
| Grade IIb | 13 (44.8%) | 34 (34.0%) | 0.381 |
| Grade IIIb | 14 (48.3%) | 8 (8.0%) | <0.001 |
| Grade IV | 4 (13.8%) | 5 (5.0%) | 0.114 |
| Grade V | 0 (0%) | 2 (2.0%) | >0.999 |
a
Clavien-Dindo Classification.22
b
Excluded air leak.
LOS: length of stay; PAL: prolonged air leak; SD: standard deviation.