Assessment of emphysema in patients undergoing major lung resections

Despite the advances in surgical techniques and the perioperative care, prolonged air leak (PAL) after major lung resection is still a frequent and vexing postoperative complication that all thoracic surgeons face in their daily practice (1). PAL is a common complication that occur in 8% to 15% of all lung resections (2), that may increase hospital stay, increase the risk of empyema, cardiopulmonary complications (3) and as a consequence increase costs (4).