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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