Linking Science with Practice

"It is imperative that we standardize evidence-based best practice surrounding the indication, placement, timing of removal, patient discomfort, and technology surrounding the use of drains following CT surgery."

Daniel Engelman, MD, Professor
Medical Director of the Heart, Vascular and Critical Care Units
Department of Surgery, Baystate Medical Center

"Proper drainage is a rudimentary and one of the most important principles in surgeries. Education, research, and innovation in Drainology is of critical importance in improving patient care."

Wentao Fang, MD, Professor
Chief Director, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital
Chief, Division of Lung Cancer Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital
Chief Director, Clinical Center for Esophageal Diseases, Jiaotong University

"There is no cardiothoracic surgery without an efficient drainage system. In cardiothoracic surgery drainage systems can appear unimportant, but influence postoperative outcome significantly. Drainology is taking care of postoperative patients’ outcome."

Theodor Fischlein, MD, Professor
Head, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center,
Paracelsus Medical University, Klinikum Nuremberg,
Professor of Cardiac Surgery – Paracelsus Medical University

"Drainology allows patients to recover better and return home faster after thoracic surgery."

Eric Lim, MD, MSc, FRCS
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, Royal Brompton Hospital
Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Imperial College London

"The study of thoracostomy tube drainage, drainology, is evolving rapidly and a high priority on our journey of learning faster and continuously improving. In fact, we’re at an inflection point in the science of drainology and the potential impact is a rare opportunity. Exciting times."

Kevin W. Lobdell, MD, Professor
Professor & System Director CV Surgical Quality, Education, and Research
Atrium Health, Charlotte/ NC

"The outcome of even the most skillful cardio-thoracic surgery can be completely undone by inadequate postoperative chest drain management. Mastery of chest drainage needs to be a core competency for any cardio-thoracic surgeon today."

Alan D.L. Sihoe, MBBChir, MA(Cantab), FRCSEd, FCCP, FACS
Thoracic Surgeon and Honorary Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgery,
Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital
Consultant in Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, CUHK Medical Centre, Hong Kong

"A chest drain is cardiac surgeons’ good friend and could be life-saving for their patients. Even if you may consider 'safe' for a patient leaving the operating room after an open-heart operation without any drain, it doesn’t mean you should ever do that."

Song Wan, MD, FRCS, FACC
Cardiac Surgeon & Honorary Advisor, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery,
Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong