Pleural tenting following upper lobectomies or bilobectomies of the lung to prevent residual air space and prolonged air leak

Abstract

Pleural tenting following upper lobectomy or bilobectomy of the lung shortens the duration of chest tube drainage and hospital stay, and it prevents apical residual air spaces and related complications. Pleural tenting is safe and relatively simple procedure, which has no associated morbidity.

Estimating hospital costs attributable to prolonged air leak in pulmonary lobectomy☆

“…Pleural tent seems to be an effective non-expensive practice in upper lobectomy cases [15,16]. Buttressed lung suture decreases hospital stay, according to Venuta et al [17], but its results have not been reproduced by Miller et al [18].…”

Dynamic sealing of lung air leaks by the transplantation of tissue engineered cell sheets

“…Many techniques have been previously advocated as methods to seal air leaks as a means of promoting healing and preventing fistulization [14,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. In terms of sealant materials, various approaches have been tested in clinical settings, such as synthetic polyethylene glycol-based hydrogel sealants [14], fleece-bound sealants and staple line reinforcements [12], and fibrin glue [4].…”

Chest drainage systems and management of air leaks after a pulmonary resection

“…Upper lobectomies have a higher incidence of air space problems than other lobar resections. Initially after surgery, the remaining lung tissue does not fill the pleural space volume and match the hemithorax shape (1,6). Physiological changes that occur to fill the space are shift of the mediastinum, diaphragm elevation, ipsilateral lung hyperinflation and narrowing of the intercostal spaces (1,6).…”