Assessing a New Chest Drain Gas Analyzer Device to Detect Air Leaks After Lung Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a new, reusable, low-cost gas analyzer designed to detect breath in chest drains for diagnosing and healing air leaks after thoracic surgery. This device measures carbon dioxide, oxygen, and pressure to provide additional information beyond the traditional visual inspection of bubbles in water-sealed chest drains. The study aims to determine if this gas analyzer can more accurately identify true air leaks compared to the standard method. Patients in this study will have the gas analyzer attached to the outlet port of their analog chest drain for the entire time the chest tube is in place. The device collects continuous data to detect intermittent spikes and changes in gas levels, and episodic data during specific air leak assessments performed twice daily. The study compares the gas analyzers performance to the standard visual inspection method in detecting air leaks. Participants will be monitored throughout their hospital stay while the chest tube is in place. The study will assess the accuracy of the gas analyzer in detecting air leaks over one year, with additional evaluation using the standard visual inspection method. Researchers will also consider patient factors like lung function and extent of surgery to understand their impact on the devices effectiveness. Safety and clinical outcomes related to air leaks, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema will be monitored up to four weeks after chest tube removal.

Feasibility and Accuracy of a Novel Pleural Drain Gas Analyzer in Detecting Air Leaks