EN
11
4.1.1 Zero air leak patient
The zero air leak patient is defined by a clinically insignificant air leak** commencing one hour after the completion of
surgery. Thopaz/Thopaz
+
only applies suction when the patient has an air leak, becoming a non-suction device when
the air leak resolves. Therefore the patient will often be seen to regulate their own intrapleural pressure immediately
after the completion of surgery.
** When discussing air leak, a clinically insignificant airflow is defined as < 40 ml/min for 6–8 h with a stable graph as per:
1) Impact of the learning curve in the use of a novel electronic chest drainage system after pulmonary lobectomy: a case-matched analysis
on the duration of chest tube usage. C. Pompili, A. Brunelli, M. Salati, M. Refai, A. Sabbatini Interactive Cardiovascular & Thoracic
Surgery. (2011). 13: 490–493.
2) Consensus definitions to promote an evidence-based approach to management of the pleural space. A collaborative proposal by ESTS,
AATS, STS, and GTSC. A. Brunelli, E. Beretta, S. Cassivi, R. Cerfolio, F Detterbeck, T. Kiefer, G. Miserocchi, J. Shrager, S. Singhal,
D. Van Raemdonck, G. Varela. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. (2011). 40: 291–297.
Patient has no
clinically significant
air leak
Patient is regulating
own intrapleural pressure
within a range of
–5 cmH20 to –20 cmH20
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