Effect of bovine pericardial strips on air leak after stapled pulmonary resection.
BACKGROUND
Surgical procedures for emphysema have been proposed and in many settings resulted in significant improvement in dyspnea and function. The most prevalent surgical problem in all series is prolonged postoperative air leak.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-three patients undergoing stapled thoracoscopic unilateral lung volume reduction operation were prospectively randomized to receive either no buttressing of their staple lines or buttressing of all staple lines with bovine pericardial strips.


RESULTS
The two groups were comparable in preoperative risks and in the severity of their emphysema. Postoperative complications were identical in the two groups with respect to pneumonia, empyema, and wound infection; however, there was a significant difference in the duration of postoperative air leaks. Those having the pericardial strips used to buttress their staple lines had chest tubes removed 2.5 days sooner and were discharged from the hospital 2.8 days sooner as a result. The cost data revealed that because of the cost of the pericardial sleeves, the overall hospital charges were almost identical for the two groups ($22,108 bovine, $22,060 no bovine) in spite of the shortened hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of bovine pericardial sleeves to buttress the staple lines in thoracoscopic unilateral lung volume reduction operation results in a shorter duration of postoperative air leaks. Total hospital charges were comparable in the two groups as the 2.8 days saved in the hospital were offset by the cost of the pericardial sleeves.
Hazelrigg
S R
SR
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, USA.
Boley
T M
TM
Naunheim
K S
KS
Magee
M J
MJ
Lawyer
C
C
Henkle
J Q
JQ
Keller
C N
CN
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008168:Lung / Q000601:surgery*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017792:Surgical Stapling / Q000379:methods*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous