PATCHVALVE Trial: A Prospective Evaluation of Blood Patch and Endobronchial Valves for Persistent Air Leaks - Pilot Study
The goal of this study is to evaluate the real-world safety and effectiveness of combining endobronchial valve (IBV) placement with endobronchial blood patching (EBP) for the treatment of persistent air leaks (PALs) in adult patients undergoing bronchoscopy. PALs are a challenging condition often associated with prolonged hospital stays, increased morbidity, and delayed recovery. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does the combination of endobronchial valve placement and endobronchial blood patching accelerate resolution of persistent air leaks? * What are the procedural outcomes, complications, and hospital-related metrics (e.g., chest tube duration, length of stay, and readmission rates) associated with this technique? Participants will: * Undergo standard-of-care bronchoscopy with identification of air leak source. * Receive intrabronchial instillation of autologous blood and tranexamic acid (TXA) followed by balloon occlusion and endobronchial valve placement. * Be followed for resolution of air leak and post-procedure outcomes through standard inpatient monitoring and data collection.
• Adult (≥18 years) patients who have been diagnosed with persistent air leaks (PALs) due to conditions such as alveolar-pleural fistulas following pulmonary resections, traumatic injury, or underlying lung disease or other cause.
• PAL patients who are deemed non-candidates for surgical intervention or have declined surgery.