Recommendations for the standardization and management of prolonged air leaks in lung surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prolonged air leaks (PAL) are a common postoperative complication following lung surgery, associated with increased morbidity, extended hospital stays, and heightened healthcare costs. The incidence of air leaks ranges from 20 to 33%, with PAL occurring in 6%-26% of cases. Management strategies for PAL remain inconsistent, highlighting the need for standardized guidelines to address this issue. This study employed the GRADE approach to develop consensus-based recommendations for detecting and managing post-lung surgery PAL.

Methods

A task force of 18 thoracic surgeons, including a methodologist, conducted a systematic literature review focusing on 14 critical clinical questions. Recommendations were developed based on evidence from meta-analyses, randomized contro

SUBMITTER: Zaraca F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12797480 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature