Free pericardial fat pads can act as sealant for preventing alveolar air leaks.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to investigate the safety and efficacy of a method using free pericardial fat pads as a sealant to prevent intraoperative and postoperative alveolar air leaks.


METHODS
Animal experiments were performed. After pulmonary parenchymal defects were created in 4 dogs, the alveolar air leaks were sealed with free pericardial fat pads. Clinical application was applied in 23 patients who underwent pulmonary resection, air leaks with stream of bubbles, or worse, were sealed with free pericardial fat pads.


RESULTS
All dogs survived for 1 month without complications. At sacrifice, all treated lungs had expanded adequately and the implanted fats remained on the lung surface. Histologic examination showed that the excised edge of the lung was closed with granulation. The clinical outcome showed the mean duration of air leaks, chest drain, and postoperative hospitalization were 2.3 +/- 3.1 days, 4.3 +/- 3.2 days, and 11.1 +/- 3.7 days, respectively. Recurrent air leaks were not observed after removal of the chest tube. No adverse effects were observed after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of free pericardial fat pads was able to successfully prevent alveolar air leaks.
Matsumoto
Isao
I
Department of General and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan. mat@p2223.nsk.ne.jp
Ohta
Yasuhiko
Y
Oda
Makoto
M
Tsunezuka
Yoshio
Y
Tamura
Masaya
M
Kawakami
Kazuyuki
K
Watanabe
Go
G
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000601:surgery*