Effectiveness of pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks after lung resection

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>Pleurodesis is often performed for air leaks; however, the ideal materials and timing of the procedure remain controversial. We investigated the efficacy of pleurodesis using different materials and timing.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>We retrospectively reviewed 913 consecutive patients who underwent segmentectomy or lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer between 2014 and 2021. Pleurodesis efficacy was assessed on the day of chest tube removal.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Eighty-six patients (9%) underwent pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks. Pleurodesis was performed on a median of postoperative day (POD) 5. Talc was the most frequently used material (n = 52, 60%), followed by autologous blood patches (n = 20, 23%), OK-432 (n = 12, 14%), and others (n = 2, 2%). No difference existed in the number of days from initial pleurodesis to chest tube removal among the three groups (talc, 3 days; autologous blood patch, 3 days; OK-432, 2 days; P = 0.55). No difference in patient background, except for sex, was observed between patients who underwent pleurodesis within 4 PODs and those who underwent pleurodesis on POD 5 or later. Drainage time was significantly shorter in patients who underwent pleurodesis within 4 PODs (median, 7 vs. 9 days; P = 0.004).</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>The efficacies of autologous blood patch, talc, and OK-432 would be considered comparable and early postoperative pleurodesis could shorten drainage time. Prospective studies are required.</jats:p> </jats:sec>