title: Efficacy of arginine supplementation for the treatment of air leakage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, the role of the amino acid arginine in wound healing has been emphasized. We studied whether postoperative enteral arginine supplementation can contribute to the resolution of prolonged air leakage after lung resections.
  
  
  METHODS
  42 patients undergoing lung resection at our institutions from 2009 to 2012 were enrolled in this study. In these patients, continuous air leakage in the expiratory phase was identified on the day of surgery and on the following day. The patients were divided into 2 groups; the first group included 21 patients consuming 3 packs of an arginine supplement beverage daily postoperatively, and the second group (control) included 21 patients who did not consume any additional supplements. The durations of air leakage and chest tube drainage were compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean durations of air leakage and chest tube drainage were shorter in the arginine supplementation group (4.4 vs. 6.7 days, p = 0.010; 6.5 vs. 8.3 days, p = 0.042, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative enteral arginine supplementation may contribute to stopping air leaks after lung surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, St. Mary's Hospital, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obuchi
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imakiire
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015505:Chest Tubes; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine
keywords: Arginine; Pneumonectomy; Pneumothorax; Postoperative hemorrhage; Wound healing