Background. The aim of our study was to determine risk factors for prolonged air leak after pulmonary resections. Methods and Results. Two hundred and five patients were operated at our department between January 2003 and March 2004. Prolonged air leak (PAL) was defined as an air leak lasting 7 days or more of postoperative chest tube drainage. PAL occurred in 17 (8.3 %) patients and it lasted 10.1±3.5 days. COPD remained the only variable predicted for PAL (p<0.05). This complication significantly prolongs the length of hospitalization (p<0.01). Conclusions. COPD patients have significantly higher risk for PAL following pulmonary resection. Intraoperative prevention of the air leak requires meticulous surgical technique, stapler use and application of pericardial bovine strips.

        Key words: pulmonary resection, prolonged air leak, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.