Successful treatment of infected residual pleural space after pulmonary resection with autologous platelet-leukocyte gel.

Abstract

Complications of the residual pleural space after pulmonary resection have been reported to be between 5% and 40% depending on the type of resection, and they increase morbidity, mortality, hospital stays, and costs. The therapeutic use of autologous prepared platelet leukocyte-enriched gel is a relatively new technology for the stimulation and acceleration of soft tissue and bone healing. This gel can be applied to a diversity of tissue. We describe the case of a successful application through a chest tube of platelet leukocyte gel to treat an infected residual pleural space that developed after pulmonary lobectomy for lung cancer.