The Effects of Glubran Glue on Alveolar Air Leak in Patients with Chronic Empyema

Air leak is one of the post-surgical complications following thoracic surgeries. Studies have shown that patients with more intraoperative air leaks are at higher risk of developing prolonged postoperative air leak. Various adjuncts have been used in attempts to reduce alveolar air leaks (AAL). One of these, is the topical application of Glubran-2. This study examines the role of Glubran-2 in management of air leak in patients with chronic empyema.

This was a randomized clinical trial that included 44 patients with chronic pulmonary empyema who underwent decortication and pleurectomy. They were divided into 2 equal groups. In the first group, Glubran-2 was used for management of air leak and in another group other routine methods were used for this purpose. Patients in each group were assessed according to their age, sex, location of the lesion, cause of the lesion, air leak and duration of hospitalization. The data were analyzed using the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) software.

All data of the clinical features showed no significant difference among case and control group in patients with chronic empyema at baseline (P>0.05). Alveolar air leak duration and duration of hospitalization were significantly lower in the sealant group compared to the no-sealant group (P< 0.001 and P< 0.01, respectively). Prolonged AAL (PALL) was found in 5 (50.0 %) patients in the case group and 15 (83.3 %) patients in the control group for a total of 20 (50 %) patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding PAAL (P= 0.77).

Our results support the use of Glubran-2 glue for decreasing alveolar air leak and then decreasing duration of hospitalization in the patients who underwent the thoracic surgeries.