Preventing prolenged air leak after pulmonary resection by subdiaphragmatic air pumping (Pneumoperitoneum)

Prolonged leak of air and development of residual pleural space is a commonly seen complication after pulmonary resections.The aim of our study was to research the effectiveness of the pneumoperitonium technique on the treatment of prolonged air leak and residual pleural space after pulmonary resections. Leak prevention, removal of drainage tube, admission period, ECG and PFT changes, and development of residual pleural space were the factors compared between the study group (consisting of 20 patients) and the control group (also consisting of 20 patients).The statistical methods used were; Mann Whitney-U, Wilcoxon Ranks, Fisher?s Exact Test, and Friedman?s Variant Analysis. P<0.05 was accepted as significant for all results.In all patients there was a statistically significant decrease in first-day, postoperative FEV1 and FVC and an increase in PCO2. These results were similar to that of the control group. In patients who underwent upper lobectomy, air leak prevention, drainage tube removal, and admission periods were shorter, but these differences were not statistically significant.As a result, no significant effectiveness of the pneumoperitonium technique in prevention of air leak and residual pleural space after lobectomies. Additional studies that include more patients undergoing upper lobectomy are recommended.