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Management of Persistent Post-operative Alveolar Air Leak

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Difficult Decisions in Thoracic Surgery

Part of the book series: Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach ((DDSURGERY,volume 1))

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Abstract

The most common and often frustrating complication for both surgeon and patient following pulmonary resection is persistent alveolar air leak. There are several available management modalities for persistent alveolar air leak. These modalities include: outpatient chest tube drainage, intra-pleural chemical sclerosis, intra-pleural blood patch, topical sealants, pneumoperitoneum, endo-bronchial valves and surgical repair. In this chapter we review the available evidence for use of each of these modalities with the goal of optimal individualized patient care plans for persistent alveolar air leak.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, 301 Symth Road, Ottawa, ON, K4K 1M2, Canada

    Anna L. McGuire MD

  2. Department of Surgery, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada

    R. Sudhir Sundaresan MD

Authors
  1. Anna L. McGuire MD
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  2. R. Sudhir Sundaresan MD
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Correspondence to R. Sudhir Sundaresan MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Mark K. Ferguson

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

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McGuire, A.L., Sundaresan, R.S. (2014). Management of Persistent Post-operative Alveolar Air Leak. In: Ferguson, M. (eds) Difficult Decisions in Thoracic Surgery. Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach, vol 1. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6404-3_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6404-3_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-6403-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-6404-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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