Blood loss and prolonged air leak reduction by applying TenaTac® gelatine patch after major pulmonary minimal-invasive resection

Abstract Objective Reduction of bleeding and prolonged air leak (>5 days) following major lung resection remains a challenge. Hemostasis and aerostasis devices can facilitate earlier pleural de-drainage and fast-track. Our objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of TenaTac ® (an elastic, adhering patch approved as a medical device) in reducing bleeding and prolonged air leak after major lung resection. Methods This monocentric retrospective case–control study, using prospectively collected data, includes 60 patients who underwent, between 2022 and 2024, minimally invasive robot-assisted lobectomy or segmentectomy: 30 with TenaTac ® vs. 30 with other devices. Data were extracted from Epithor, the French national database, with ethics committee validation. Results Patients characteristics, Index of Prolonged Air Leak, and surgical procedures were similar in both groups (NS). TenaTac ® hemostatic benefit was comparable to other devices ( p = 0.56). Prolonged air leak rate was significantly lower with TenaTac ® (3%) than for control devices (37%) ( p = 0.0004). Post-operative air leakage duration was significantly shorter in TenaTac ® group than in control group (2.23 ± 2.57 vs. 4.23 ± 3.87 days, p = 0.01). Mean drainage duration and length of stay were both reduced with TenaTac ® by 36 hours. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of morbidity (90-day post-operative complications classified as Clavien–Dindo grade>II, p = 0.33), readmission rates (nil), or 90-day mortality (no deaths). Conclusions Numerous hemostatic or aerostatic devices have been previously evaluated without achieving consensus in the prevention of prolonged air leak. As an absorbable, adherent gelatine patch, TenaTac ® significantly reduces the incidence of prolonged air leak after major lung resection.