title: Pleurodesis using autologous blood: a new concept in the management of persistent air leak in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pneumothorax is present as a frequent complication in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Persistent air leak (PAL) prolongs pneumothorax in 2% of cases of ARDS, increasing the rate of mortality by 26%. Pleurodesis using autologous blood (PAB) is an effective method in cases of oncological pulmonary surgery. The goal of this study was to compare PAB with the conventional drain and water seal in the management of PAL in patients with ARDS and pneumothorax.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a case-control, prospective, nonrandomized one comparing 2 groups subjected to artificial pairing (1:1).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took place at the Torrecardenas Hospital (Andalusian Health Service, Almería, Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 2 groups of 27 patients, all with ARDS, pneumothorax, and PAL.
  
  
  METHODS
  One group received conventional treatment whereas the other received PAB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The severity of the conditions of both groups is homogeneous, shown by sex; age; Murray, Marshall, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores; and etiology of ARDS. The patients in the PAB group had a shorter stay in the ICU, shorter weaning time (WT), and lower death rate. The average differences between the groups were 11 days less WT (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.1) and 9 days less on average time spent in the ICU (adjusted OR = 0.24). The death rates in the PAB group and the control group were 3.7% and 29.6%, respectively (adjusted OR = 0.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of PAB makes possible a decrease in ventilator WT and a shorter stay in the ICU, with a resulting increase in functional recuperation and decrease in patient mortality.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Unit, Torrecardenas University Hospital, Almería, Spain. semaes@mixmail.com
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martínez-Escobar
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Bailén
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lorente-Acosta
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vicente-Rull
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Martínez-Coronel
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cuartero
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000388:Air; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D018450:Disease Progression; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018700:Pleurodesis / Q000379:methods*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012016:Reference Values; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis