[Intraoperative use of fibrin sealant in pulmonary surgery. A prospective study on a series of 124 procedures]

Abstract

Following lung resection, there is often important air leakage. Application of fibrin sealant on the parenchymal sutures or sites stripped of visceral pleura improves airtightness. The author reports a prospective series of 124 operations complicated by important air leakage, which was treated by application of fibrin sealant. This group is compared to another similar group of patients in which fibrin sealant was not used. All operations were done by the same surgeon. The time of post-operative thoracic drainage is markedly reduced (mean two days), and the post-operative hospital stay time is also reduced. It seems that intra-operative use of fibrin sealant helps to improve the post-operative course in the surgical unit.