[Fibrin-coated collagen fleece in thoracic surgery. Initial clinical experience]

After resecting procedures to the parenchyma of the lung the resection site was sealed with a collagen vleece combined with fibrin glue in 26 patients. No patient exhibited rebleeding. An air leak was present up to the first postoperative day in 19 patients, up to the third postoperative day in 5 patients. In two patients, duration of air leak extended beyond the third postoperative day, this was defined as therapeutic failure. The use of collagen vleece combined with fibrin glue represents a valuable contribution in thoracic surgery.