Application of autologous blood patch in patients with non-expanded lungs and persistent air leak

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pleurodesis procedure by ensuring the expansion of the lung and occluding lung parenchyma leaks with an autologous blood patch. Methods: A total of 24 patients (17 males, 7 females; mean age 59.9±12.2 years; range, 30 to 86 years) who underwent autologous blood patch pleurodesis in our clinic between November 2015 and November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were not eligible to undergo chemical pleurodesis due to a non-expandable lung or poor general condition. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients and postoperative data were evaluated. Results: The air leak stopped within 48 h after autologous blood patch pleurodesis in seven patients. The air leak significantly decreased in 13 patients, while it remained unchanged in four patients. A Heimlich valve was placed in the patients in whom the air leak stopped or significantly decreased. The follow-up chest X-rays showed that the respective lungs of these patients became completely expandable. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that the autologous blood patch procedure is a favorable option for the patients who are unable to benefit much from the conventional chemical pleurodesis methods due to contraindications to surgery or the presence of non-expandable lungs.