Prolonged Air Leak (PAL) Autologous Blood Patch Intervention Trial

All patients will be assessed on the morning of postoperative Day 3 and 4 for the presence of an air leak. If an air leak is present, 60-100 ml of autologous blood will be drawn from a peripheral vein and immediately instilled into the chest tube. The individual who draws blood is that the discretion of the site principal investigator. The tubing will be elevated over an IV pole while the patient remains in bed, moving position every 15 minutes for 1 hour to distribute the blood throughout the pleural cavity. The tubing support will then be removed, allowing the chest tube to drain. After ABP intervention, the chest tube will remain to water seal, as long as the patient tolerates it.

Patients randomized to Standard of Care will be treated as their surgeon would as routine. This may mean postoperative observation, of another type of intervention.