Skip to content

Prolonged Air Leak (PAL) Autologous Blood Patch Intervention Trial

Prolonged Air Leak (PAL) Autologous Blood Patch Intervention Trial

Status
Enrolling by invitation
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04954625
Enrollment
60
Registered
2021-07-08
Start date
2021-07-01
Completion date
2026-12-31
Last updated
2025-10-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Lung Cancer

Keywords

Surgery, Prolonged Air Leak, Autologous Blood Patch, Lung

Brief summary

A postoperative autologous blood patch (ABP) intervention trial for patients who underwent lung resection for cancer to examine its effectiveness in preventing a prolonged air leak. AIM 1: To determine the safety and efficacy of autologous blood patch (ABP) as a means to reduce the rate of prolonged air leak (PAL) after lung cancer resection AIM 2: To prospectively examine variation in morbidity and quality of life between patients with and without a PAL

Detailed description

The plan for this trial is to establish the safety and efficacy of ABP as a means of reducing PAL following lung cancer resection. Patients with an air leak on the morning of postoperative day 3 after elective lung resection for cancer will be randomized to ABP on postoperative day 3 and day 4 (if an air leak remains present), or standard care (n=60 per arm). This will be a multi-institutional randomized, controlled trial open for enrollment at centers in the United States and Canada. The study methods and design are compliant with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). Subjects will be consented on postoperative day 3, with autologous blood patch intervention occurring on day 3 or day 4. If subjects are randomized to the ABP arm of the trial, they will receive 60-100 ml of autologous blood sterilely drawn from a peripheral vein and immediately instilled into the chest tube. Subjects will then follow up either in clinic or via telephone to answer the questionnaire. If the subject is being seen in person, they will be handed a questionnaire form to complete. This form will be kept and stored as source documentation. If the patient is answering the questionnaire via telephone, the study team personnel will record their answers on the questionnaire form, indicating it was completed by the subject but recorded by study team personnel. A telephone encounter note will be recorded and stored as source with the completed questionnaire. Follow up occurs at 30 days (+/-5 days) postoperatively.

Interventions

All patients will be assessed on the morning of postoperative Day 3 and 4 for the presence of an air leak. If an air leak is present, 60-100 ml of autologous blood will be drawn from a peripheral vein and immediately instilled into the chest tube. The individual who draws blood is that the discretion of the site principal investigator. The tubing will be elevated over an IV pole while the patient remains in bed, moving position every 15 minutes for 1 hour to distribute the blood throughout the pleural cavity. The tubing support will then be removed, allowing the chest tube to drain. After ABP intervention, the chest tube will remain to water seal, as long as the patient tolerates it.

PROCEDUREStandard of Care (per Physician)

Patients randomized to Standard of Care will be treated as their surgeon would as routine. This may mean postoperative observation, of another type of intervention.

Sponsors

Rush University Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients who underwent elective wedge resection, segmentectomy, lobectomy, or bilobectomy for suspected non-small cell lung cancer * Patients that have reviewed and signed the Informed Consent Form, had an opportunity to ask questions, and consent to have their de-identified data included in the study * Patients who have an air leak on the morning of postoperative Day 3 * Age ≥18 years old

Exclusion criteria

* Patients who undergo pneumonectomy, sleeve lobectomy, chest wall or diaphragm resection, or bilateral procedures. * Age \< 18 years old * Women who are pregnant

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Prolonged Air Leak >5 daysWithin 30 DaysDefinition of prolonged air leak: air leak present at 5 days or greater
Hospital Length of StayWithin 30 DaysNumber of days patient was admitted inpatient
Readmission within 30 daysWithin 30 DaysDetermination of whether the patient was readmitted after discharge within 30 days.
In hospital mortalityWithin 30 DaysSurvival status while inpatient.
30-day MortalityWithin 30 DaysSurvival status within 30 days consent.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026