This retrospective study evaluated a revised chest tube management protocol allowing removal at fluid outputs up to 500 mL/24 h after anatomic lung resection, compared to the standard 200 mL/24 h threshold. The new protocol enabled earlier chest tube removal (median 2 vs. 3.5 days) without increasing complications, pain, or…
Read more »This comprehensive review examines current strategies and evidence for chest drainage after lung cancer surgery, highlighting ongoing debates over optimal removal criteria and drainage techniques—including suction versus water seal and digital versus analogue systems. Despite extensive research, no consensus has been reached due to conflicting results and limited high-quality evidence.…
Read more »This multicenter, randomized controlled trial compared two intrathoracic pressure settings (−8 cmH₂O vs. −15 cmH₂O) in digital pleural drainage for patients with moderate air leaks after lung resection. No significant differences were found in prolonged air leak rates, air leak duration, chest tube duration, or hospital stay between groups. The…
Read more »This randomized study compared standard suction (−20 cmH₂O) and low suction (−8 cmH₂O) using digital drainage after minimally invasive lung resection. Both approaches, with a single 24 Fr Blake drain and a removal threshold of 450 mL/24 h, were safe and effective. However, low suction did not shorten air leak…
Read more »This single-center, non-inferiority trial assessed whether chest tube removal based solely on digital drainage data is as safe as traditional clamping trials. Among 92 patients—primarily post-lung surgery—no significant difference in chest tube reinsertion rates was observed. Notably, clamping led to pneumothorax progression in over 13% of cases. The findings support…
Read more »This study compared digital and underwater seal drainage systems in cardiac surgery patients. After matching patients for comparison, those using digital drainage had a significantly lower risk of post-operative atrial fibrillation. However, there were no differences in other outcomes like bleeding, tamponade, pleural effusion, or drain output. The findings suggest…
Read more »Persistent air leaks (PAL) and excess fluid drainage prolong hospital stays after lung surgery. Studies support outpatient PAL management, reducing costs but posing risks like empyema and readmission. Segmentectomy increases PAL risks, requiring further study. Outpatient pneumothorax treatment is feasible but has mixed results. Structured post-discharge care, including monitoring, is…
Read more »This article identifies and summarizes the current comparative data between digital drains and traditional pleural devices. Some randomized controlled trials found no significant difference between digital and analogue systems. Others reported shorter chest tube duration and length of stay with digital devices. Meta-analyses support these findings, though variations in protocols…
Read more »Effective drainology influences hospital stay duration. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines recommend a single chest tube, digital drainage systems, pain management and improving mobility. However, suction pressure and chest tube removal criteria remain a topic of debate and research. Studies show early drain removal, on POD0, is safe using…
Read more »Different drainage modalities and chest placement strategies significantly affect postoperative outcomes in coronary artery bypass graft patients. This article shows that portable digital drainage system (Thopaz+, Medela) outperformed conventional drainage systems in reducing RBS interventions, supporting early re-exploration for bleeding, and reducing postoperative atrial fibrillation incidence and resource utilization. Digital…
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