The efficacy and economical benefits of blood patch pleurodesis in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax patients

INTRODUCTION: Prolonged air leak in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) patients remains one of the biggest challenges for thoracic surgeons. This study investigates the feasibility, effectiveness, clinical outcomes, and economical benefits of the autologous blood patch pleurodesis method in SSP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: First-episode SSP patients undergoing autologous blood patch pleurodesis for resistant air leak following underwater-seal thoracostomy, between January 2010 and June 2013 were taken into the study. Timing and success rate of pleurodesis, recurrence, additional intervention, hospital length of stay, and complications that occurred during follow-up were examined from medical records, retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirty-one (27 male, 4 female) SSP patients with expanded lungs on chest X-ray and resistant air leak on the 3(rd) post-interventional day were enrolled. Mean age was 53.7 ± 18.9 years (range: 23-81). Twenty-four patients were treated with tube thoracostomy, 2 with pezzer drain, and 5 with 8 F pleural catheter. 96.8% success was achieved; air leak in 29 of 31 patients (93.5%) ceased within the first 24 hours. No procedure-related complication such as fever, pain or empyema was seen. Late pneumothorax recurrence occurred in 4 (12.9%) patients; 1 treated with talc pleurodesis where the other 3 necessitated surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous blood patch pleurodesis is a safe, effective, and easily performed procedure with no need of any additional equipment or extra cost. This method can be applied to all patients with radiologically expanded lungs and continuous air leak after 48 hours following water-seal drainage thoracostomy, to reduce hospital stay duration, unnecessary surgical interventions, and the expenses.