Management of Air Leaks and Residual Spaces Following Lung Resection

Air leaks and residual airspaces following lung resection are common problems in thoracic surgery. Prolonged air leaks frequently necessitate extended hospitalization. This is true whether the surgery was done in an open fashion or with video-/robot-assisted thoracic surgery. In this review, the authors present common risk factors that predispose to prolonged air leaks and discuss the management options for air leaks by focusing on intraoperative maneuvers, postoperative considerations, and options for difficult-to-manage air leaks and spaces. They also discuss options to prevent such spaces and present management approaches to take care of patients with these challenging problems.