Can your own blood fix a leaky lung after cancer surgery?

NCT ID NCT04954625

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION Disease control Sponsor: Rush University Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether injecting a patient's own blood into the chest tube can stop prolonged air leaks after lung cancer surgery. About 60 adults who still have an air leak three days after surgery will receive the blood patch. Researchers will check if it reduces hospital stays and complications.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: autologous blood patch (a procedure using the patient's own blood injected into the chest tube)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple, low-cost way to fix persistent air leaks after lung cancer surgery, helping patients go home sooner.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial with only 60 patients, so results may not apply to everyone. The procedure may not work for all types of air leaks.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

lung cancer lung neoplasm non-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LUNG CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States

More trials for these conditions

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