Thoracoscopic treatment of recurrent pleural effusions with and without implantation of a small-lumen indwelling pleural catheter
Redwan, Bassam; Al Masri, Eyad; Kösek, Volkan; Krüger, Marcus; Khalil, Amr; Greve, Thorsten; Biancosino, Christian | June 5, 2026
Papers
This retrospective bicentric study compared VATS pleurodesis with versus without primary indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) placement for recurrent pleural effusions. Combined IPC implantation significantly reduced chest drainage duration and hospital length of stay without increasing complications or operative time. These findings suggest that integrating IPC into surgical pleural management may…
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Postoperative drainage with double 8F ultrafine chest tubes improves pain control and reduces specific complications in uniportal thoracoscopic lung tumor resection
Hongde Jiang, Di Wu, Zhengwei Huang, Donghui Chu, Jun Wang, Zufang Liao, Liwei Tang, Wentao Hu, Guofang Zhao, Zhengfu He, Chenwei Li | April 24, 2026
Papers
This multicenter retrospective cohort study evaluated ultrafine pigtail chest tubes after uniportal VATS for lung tumors in 1076 patients. After propensity score matching, two 8 Fr ultrafine chest tubes were associated with lower early postoperative pain, reduced early drainage volume, and fewer complications such as atelectasis and intrathoracic hemorrhage compared…
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Enhanced recovery in lung surgery: coaxial versus conventional chest drains following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy
Mohamed Salama, Michael Rolf Mueller | November 30, 2025
Papers
This randomized trial compared conventional versus coaxial chest drains after VATS lobectomy using digital suction. Coaxial drains significantly reduced drainage duration, tube occlusion, and subcutaneous emphysema, with lower postoperative inflammatory markers. High early fluid output predicted prolonged drainage. These findings suggest that coaxial drains provide more reliable air and fluid…
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Small versus large bore chest tube in traumatic hemothorax, hemopneumothorax, and pneumothorax
Stefano Granieri, Stefano Piero Bernardo Cioffi, Alessandro Asaro, Michele Altomare, Andrea Spota, Francesco Virdis, Roberto Bini, Shailvi Gupta, Kimberly Davis & Stefania Cimbanassi | November 27, 2025
Papers
This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials compared small‑bore versus large‑bore chest tubes in adult trauma patients. Small‑bore tubes demonstrated similar failure and complication rates, with a modest but significant reduction in drainage duration. No differences in hospital stay were observed. However, trial sequential analysis showed the current evidence…
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A standardised comparison of chest and percutaneous drainage catheters to evaluate the applicability of the ‘French’ sizing units
Karan Daga, Graham D. Milward, Daniel Pintos dos Santos, Derek W. Edwards & Hans-Ulrich Laasch | January 10, 2025
Papers
This study evaluated the internal diameters and flow rates of 6 Fr–12 Fr drainage catheters from eight manufacturers under standardized conditions. Results revealed significant variability in internal dimensions and performance, with some smaller catheters outperforming larger ones. Notably, thin-walled 10 Fr drains exceeded the flow rates of certain 12 Fr…
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Drainology: Leveraging research in chest-drain management to enhance recovery after cardiothoracic surgery
Kevin W. Lobdell, Louis P. Perrault, Rachel H. Drgastin, Alessandro Brunelli, Robert J. Cerfolio, Daniel T. Engelman, ERAS Cardiac Society Working Group | April 9, 2024
Papers
This review introduces the concept of “Drainology” – the science of chest drain management – and highlights the significant variation in postoperative drainage practices across cardiothoracic surgery. Drawing on expert discussions from the AATS Drainology symposium and subsequent research, the authors identify chest drain management as a critical yet under‑standardized…
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Chest tube management: Past, present, and future directions for developing evidence-based best practices
Kevin W. Lobdell, MD and Daniel T. Engelman, MD | February 20, 2021
Papers
This narrative review highlights the central role of chest drains in recovery after cardiac surgery while emphasizing the considerable variation in current management practices. Key decisions (including drain type, number, maintenance of patency, and timing of removal) remain largely guided by tradition rather than robust evidence. The authors identify important…
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