Effect of Stapler Booster on Post-operative Air Leakage in the Surgical Treatment of Bullous Lung Disease

Abstract

Objective: Prolonged air leakage is a major complication ofoperations for bullous lung disease. This study aimed to investigatethe effect of using buttressed staple lines on post-operative airleakage in patients who underwent bullous lung disease (BLD)surgery by comparing the use and non-use of buttressed staple lines.Methods: This single-institution study included patients whounderwent thoracotomy because of BLD between 2007 and 2015.Patients were retrospectively reviewed for demographic variables,operation technique, buttressed staple line usage and type and postoperative air leakage duration.Results: We analysed 49 patients [44 (89%) men], with a meanage of 59 years. Of patients, 97.9% (n=48) had wedge resection,and 2.1% (n=1) had lobectomy. In 44% (n=22), a buttressed stapleline was used. Autografts (bulla wall) were used as buttressed staplelines in 54.5% (n=12) and synthetic polytetrafluoroethylene graftsin 45.5% (n=10) of cases. The mean post-operative air leakageduration was 7±3 days in the buttressed staple line group and 8±6days in cases without booster. Prolonged air leakage was seen in 3patients (27%) in the buttressed staple line group and 11 (25%) inthe no booster group. There was no difference between the presenceand absence of booster and between organic and synthetic graftusage.