Effect of Calcium Alginate Stopper on Persistent Air Leakage in the Lung of Rats

Background and Aim: A number of adverse consequences of Persistent Air Leakage (PAL) account for the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. Calcium Alginate is known as an effective and bioactive occlusion material, but the effect of Calcium Alginate stopper on air leakage has not yet been investigated in vivo. Here, we aim to examine the efficiency of Calcium Alginate stopper in the prevention of air leakage in the lung of rats. Methods: A total of 24 rats were included in the study. Comparable tissue injury was induced in all groups by performing right anterior thoracotomies. The control group received no treatment at the injury site, the standard surgery group underwent conventional suturing, and the experimental group was treated with a calcium alginate stopper. Results: At a positive airway pressure of 5 cmH₂O, air leakage was detected in the isolated lungs of the control group but was absent in both the standard surgery and study groups. The mean airway pressure required to induce air leakage was 6.1 ± 0.5 cmH₂O in the control group, 17.3 ± 3.1 cm H₂O in the standard surgery group, and 21.6 ± 3.5 cmH₂O in the study group, respectively. Conclusion: The calcium alginate stopper effectively prevented air leakage in rat lungs, with no significant difference observed when compared with the standard surgery group.