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Lung CancerNCT04954625

Prolonged Air Leak (PAL) Autologous Blood Patch Intervention Trial

A study testing Autologous Blood Patch in people with Lung Cancer, run by Rush University Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

Enrolling by invitation

Enrolling by invitation. The study team selects and invites participants, usually from an existing group of patients.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Lung Cancer
What is being tested?
Autologous Blood Patch
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Jul 2021to 31 Dec 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients who underwent elective wedge resection, segmentectomy, lobectomy, or bilobectomy for suspected non-small cell lung cancer
  • Patients that have reviewed and signed the Informed Consent Form, had an opportunity to ask questions, and consent to have their de-identified data included in the study
  • Patients who have an air leak on the morning of postoperative Day 3
  • Age ≥18 years old

Who cannot join

  • Patients who undergo pneumonectomy, sleeve lobectomy, chest wall or diaphragm resection, or bilateral procedures.
  • Age < 18 years old
  • Women who are pregnant

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United States1 site

  • Rush University Medical Center

    Chicago, Illinois, 60612

Other trials in United States

About this study

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

Read the detailed description

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.

Conditions
Lung Cancer
Being tested
Autologous Blood Patch, Standard of Care (per Physician)
Keywords
Surgery, Prolonged Air Leak, Autologous Blood Patch, Lung
Medical subject headings
Lung Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Autologous Blood PatchProcedure or surgery

    All patients will be assessed on the morning of postoperative Day 3 and 4 for the presence of an air leak. If an air leak is present, 60-100 ml of autologous blood will be drawn from a peripheral vein and immediately instilled into the chest tube. The individual who draws blood is that the discretion of the site principal investigator. The tubing will be elevated over an IV pole while the patient remains in bed, moving position every 15 minutes for 1 hour to distribute the blood throughout the pleural cavity. The tubing support will then be removed, allowing the chest tube to drain. After ABP intervention, the chest tube will remain to water seal, as long as the patient tolerates it.

  • Standard of Care (per Physician)Procedure or surgery

    Patients randomized to Standard of Care will be treated as their surgeon would as routine. This may mean postoperative observation, of another type of intervention.

Study groups in NCT04954625
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Autologous Blood PatchExperimental60-120ml of patient's blood will be drawn and inserted into patient's chest tube. A minimum of 60ml of blood is required, with the optimal amount of blood being 120ml.
Receives: Procedure: Autologous Blood Patch
Standard of Care (Per physician)Active comparatorChest tube remains intact without blood patch.
Receives: Procedure: Standard of Care (per Physician)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Prolonged Air Leak >5 days

    Definition of prolonged air leak: air leak present at 5 days or greater

    Measured: Within 30 Days

  2. Hospital Length of Stay

    Number of days patient was admitted inpatient

    Measured: Within 30 Days

  3. Readmission within 30 days

    Determination of whether the patient was readmitted after discharge within 30 days.

    Measured: Within 30 Days

  4. In hospital mortality

    Survival status while inpatient.

    Measured: Within 30 Days

  5. 30-day Mortality

    Survival status within 30 days consent.

    Measured: Within 30 Days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 Jul 2021
  2. Study start1 Jul 2021
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04954625
Sponsor's protocol ID
19072606
Status last verified
Oct 2025
First submitted
28 Jun 2021
Last updated
10 Oct 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999-2013 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; 2017. Available at: www.cdc.gov/uscs

  • Stephan F, Boucheseiche S, Hollande J, Flahault A, Cheffi A, Bazelly B, Bonnet F. Pulmonary complications following lung resection: a comprehensive analysis of incidence and possible risk factors. Chest. 2000 Nov;118(5):1263-70. doi: 10.1378/chest.118.5.1263.

    PubMed 11083673

  • Brunelli A, Monteverde M, Borri A, Salati M, Marasco RD, Fianchini A. Predictors of prolonged air leak after pulmonary lobectomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Apr;77(4):1205-10; discussion 1210. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2003.10.082.

    PubMed 15063235

  • Isowa N, Hasegawa S, Bando T, Wada H. Preoperative risk factors for prolonged air leak following lobectomy or segmentectomy for primary lung cancer. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2002 May;21(5):951. doi: 10.1016/s1010-7940(02)00076-3. No abstract available.

    PubMed 12062302

  • Liang S, Ivanovic J, Gilbert S, Maziak DE, Shamji FM, Sundaresan RS, Seely AJE. Quantifying the incidence and impact of postoperative prolonged alveolar air leak after pulmonary resection. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013 Apr;145(4):948-954. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.08.044. Epub 2012 Sep 13.

    PubMed 22982031

  • Gilbert S, Maghera S, Seely AJ, Maziak DE, Shamji FM, Sundaresan SR, Villeneuve PJ. Identifying Patients at Higher Risk of Prolonged Air Leak After Lung Resection. Ann Thorac Surg. 2016 Nov;102(5):1674-1679. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2016.05.035. Epub 2016 Jul 22.

    PubMed 27457828

  • Attaar A, Winger DG, Luketich JD, Schuchert MJ, Sarkaria IS, Christie NA, Nason KS. A clinical prediction model for prolonged air leak after pulmonary resection. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017 Mar;153(3):690-699.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.10.003. Epub 2016 Oct 14.

    PubMed 27912898

  • Lee L, Hanley SC, Robineau C, Sirois C, Mulder DS, Ferri LE. Estimating the risk of prolonged air leak after pulmonary resection using a simple scoring system. J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Jun;212(6):1027-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.03.010. Epub 2011 Apr 13.

    PubMed 21489831

  • Brunelli A, Varela G, Refai M, Jimenez MF, Pompili C, Sabbatini A, Aranda JL. A scoring system to predict the risk of prolonged air leak after lobectomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Jul;90(1):204-9. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.02.054.

    PubMed 20609776

  • Rivera C, Bernard A, Falcoz PE, Thomas P, Schmidt A, Benard S, Vicaut E, Dahan M. Characterization and prediction of prolonged air leak after pulmonary resection: a nationwide study setting up the index of prolonged air leak. Ann Thorac Surg. 2011 Sep;92(3):1062-8; discussion 1068. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2011.04.033.

    PubMed 21871301

  • Stolz AJ, Schutzner J, Lischke R, Simonek J, Pafko P. Predictors of prolonged air leak following pulmonary lobectomy. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2005 Feb;27(2):334-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2004.11.004.

    PubMed 15691692

  • Pompili C, Falcoz PE, Salati M, Szanto Z, Brunelli A. A risk score to predict the incidence of prolonged air leak after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: An analysis from the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons database. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017 Apr;153(4):957-965. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2016.11.064. Epub 2016 Dec 22.

    PubMed 28089646

  • Varela G, Jimenez MF, Novoa N, Aranda JL. Estimating hospital costs attributable to prolonged air leak in pulmonary lobectomy. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2005 Feb;27(2):329-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2004.11.005.

    PubMed 15691691

  • Liberman M, Muzikansky A, Wright CD, Wain JC, Donahue DM, Allan JS, Gaissert HA, Morse CR, Mathisen DJ, Lanuti M. Incidence and risk factors of persistent air leak after major pulmonary resection and use of chemical pleurodesis. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Mar;89(3):891-7; discussion 897-8. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2009.12.012.

    PubMed 20172150

  • Mueller MR, Marzluf BA. The anticipation and management of air leaks and residual spaces post lung resection. J Thorac Dis. 2014 Mar;6(3):271-84. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.11.29.

    PubMed 24624291

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Autologous Blood Patch in people with Lung Cancer, run by Rush University Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Prolonged Air Leak >5 days (time frame: Within 30 Days). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04954625, which also lists 30 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Oct 2025.

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