Prolonged Air Leak (PAL) Autologous Blood Patch Intervention Trial

A postoperative autologous blood patch (ABP) intervention trial for patients who underwent lung resection for cancer to examine its effectiveness in preventing a prolonged air leak. AIM 1: To determine the safety and efficacy of autologous blood patch (ABP) as a means to reduce the rate of prolonged air leak (PAL) after lung cancer resection AIM 2: To prospectively examine variation in morbidity and quality of life between patients with and without a PAL

The plan for this trial is to establish the safety and efficacy of ABP as a means of reducing PAL following lung cancer resection. Patients with an air leak on the morning of postoperative day 3 after elective lung resection for cancer will be randomized to ABP on postoperative day 3 and day 4 (if an air leak remains present), or standard care (n=60 per arm). This will be a multi-institutional randomized, controlled trial open for enrollment at centers in the United States and Canada. The study methods and design are compliant with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). Subjects will be consented on postoperative day 3, with autologous blood patch intervention occurring on day 3 or day 4. If subjects are randomized to the ABP arm of the trial, they will receive 60-100 ml of autologous blood sterilely drawn from a peripheral vein and immediately instilled into the chest tube. Subjects will then follow up either in clinic or via telephone to answer the questionnaire. If the subject is being seen in person, they will be handed a questionnaire form to complete. This form will be kept and stored as source documentation. If the patient is answering the questionnaire via telephone, the study team personnel will record their answers on the questionnaire form, indicating it was completed by the subject but recorded by study team personnel. A telephone encounter note will be recorded and stored as source with the completed questionnaire. Follow up occurs at 30 days (+/-5 days) postoperatively.