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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome
Published on: January 23, 2026
[Pulmonary resections and prolonged air leak]
A J Stolz1, J Schützner, R Lischke
13. chirurgická klinika 1. LF UK a FNM, Praha. stolz@seznam.cz
Background:
The aim of our study was to determine risk factors for prolonged air leak after pulmonary resections.
Methods And Results:
Two hundred and five patients were operated at our department between January 2003 and March 2004. Prolonged air leak (PAL) was defined as an air leak lasting 7 days or more of postoperative chest tube drainage. PAL occurred in 17 (8.3%) patients and it lasted 10.1+/-3.5 days. COPD remained the only variable predicted for PAL (p<0.05). This complication significantly prolongs the length of hospitalization (p<0.01).
Conclusions:
COPD patients have significantly higher risk for PAL following pulmonary resection. Intraoperative prevention of the air leak requires meticulous surgical technique, stapler use and application of pericardial bovine strips.
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Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
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Pneumothorax-I
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
