Thopaz for PALs Evaluation

NCT ID: NCT07105436

Last Updated: 2025-08-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-31
• Study Completion Date: 2026-09-30

Brief Summary

Persistent air leaks (PALs) are a common postoperative complication resulting from tears in the visceral pleura or peripheral lung resections. Although highly prevalent with significant consequences, traditional assessment methods lack the capability to objectively quantify air leaks, which further complicates management, results in inconsistent decision making, and prolongs hospital stays. By incorporating the Thopaz+ system, the investigators can introduce a reliable approach to objectively quantify air leaks, potentially improving clinical outcomes.

The purpose of this protocol is to perform a pilot prospective controlled clinical trial to evaluate the utility of incorporating the Thopaz+ system and its volume quantification ability in evaluating patients with persistent air leaks (PALs) to guide treatment decisions, specifically endobronchial valves (EBVs).

In the targeted cohort, the Thopaz+ will be connected to the chest tube and the data collected will be combined with that of serial balloon occlusion testing with a Fogarty balloon to accurately localize the air leak source, and subsequently consider the correct placement of EBVs. The investigators will thereby determine whether this experimental strategy will yield a more accurate and objective assessment of air leaks, facilitating timely interventions and improved patient outcomes.

Detailed Description

The investigators will conduct a prospective controlled clinical trial. The investigators' target demographic includes all adult patients with lung resection and/or non-lung resection-related PAL with ipsilateral chest tubes who were not candidates for surgical intervention or patients who refused the intervention. These patients would undergo a multidisciplinary review by thoracic surgery, interventional pulmonary and the primary care team to consider a bronchoscopic approach with endobronchial valves and possibly bronchial blood patch, which is currently considered standard of care at our institution. During this standard-of-care intervention, quantitative assessment of distal occluded airway pressures/flows in various airways, as well as quantitative assessment of air leak volume will be assessed.

In current medical practice, when EBVs are considered in the context of managing PALs, bronchoscopists may opt to either conduct complete lobar occlusion (sealing of all segments within the target lobe) or segmental occlusion (sealing only selected segments within the target lobe). The decision is usually guided by localizing the source of air leak which is usually done by monitoring the reduction of air leak on the pleural drainage device following serial inflation of a Fogarty Catheter at various locations within the endobronchial tree and monitoring change in air leak visually in the pleural drainage system.

In this trial, patients with PALs will have their chest tubes connected to the Thopaz+ system. The Thopaz+ will continuously quantify the volume of air leaks, providing real-time data for analysis.

Data from both the Thopaz+ and standard serial occlusion test with Fogarty balloon will be combined and integrated to provide a comprehensive assessment of the air leak source. The bronchoscopist will perform standard visual assessment of changes in air leak during serial balloon occlusion in order to identify the best region for endobronchial treatments; use of measurements from the Thopaz and serial balloon occlusion test will be allowed as part of clinical reasoning but are not required to be used by the treating clinician.

Continuous monitoring using the Thopaz+ system may continue post-procedure to track changes in air leak volumes and patient recovery, ensuring timely interventions and optimal patient outcomes. This integrated approach aims to provide a more accurate, objective, and efficient method of managing PALs compared to traditional techniques.

Conditions

Persistent Air Leaks

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Interventions

Persistent air leak quantification

In this trial, patients with PALs will have their chest tubes connected to the Thopaz+ system. The Thopaz+ will continuously quantify the volume of air leaks, providing real-time data for analysis.

Data from both the Thopaz+ and standard serial occlusion test with Fogarty balloon will be combined and integrated to provide a comprehensive assessment of the air leak source. The bronchoscopic will perform standard visual assessment of changes in air leak during serial balloon occlusion in order to identify the best region for endobronchial treatments; use of measurements from the Thopaz and serial balloon occlusion test will be allowed as part of clinical reasoning but are not required to be used by the treating clinician.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Hospitalized with a persistent air leak (PAL) lasting ≥5 days despite continuous chest tube drainage.
• Undergoing bronchoscopy as part of clinical care for PAL management.
• Able and willing to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Contraindications to bronchoscopy or EBV placement.
• Pregnancy.
• Inability to tolerate general anesthesia.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Kai Swenson

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kai Swenson

Instructor in Medicine

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

Kai Swenson, MD

Role: CONTACT

BIDMC-IPResearchTeam@bidmc.harvard.edu

617-632-8386

Other Identifiers

2024P001113

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id