Ahmed Shaban, Hany A. Zak, Benny Ponappan, Waseem Ahmad Malik, Eman E. Shaban, Amira Shaban, Mohammed F. Abosamak  |  July 25, 2026

This updated meta-analysis evaluated the impact of suction versus water seal (no external suction connected) management following tube thoracostomy for traumatic pneumothorax and hemothorax. Across five randomized trials, suction was associated with shorter chest tube duration, reduced hospital length of stay, and higher rates of complete lung re-expansion compared with…

Dan Levy Faber, Juna Azizi,Ronen Galili,Sonia Schneer and Abed Agbarya  |  May 8, 2026

This randomized controlled trial compared chest drain management with (at -20 cmH2O) versus without (at -8 cmH2O) suction after lung resection using a digital system. Avoiding suction (-8 cmH2O) significantly shortened chest tube duration without affecting hospital stay or prolonged air leak rates. Continuous suction was independently associated with delayed…

Olugbenga Awolaran, Fouad Youssef, Megan Skakum, Bj Hancock, Anna C. Shawyer, Richard Keijzer, Suyin A. Lum Min  |  August 1, 2026

This retrospective study used Markov modeling to evaluate the impact of suction on chest drain management in children with parapneumonic effusions. While suction did not improve progression toward resolution from most clinical states, it was associated with delayed recovery once fluid drainage had decreased to ≤2 mL/kg/day. The findings suggest…

Dan Levy Faber, Juna Azizi, Ronen Galili,Sonia Schneer and Abed Agbarya  |  May 8, 2026

This randomized controlled trial compared chest drain management with (at -20 cmH2O) versus without (at -8 cmH2O) suction after lung resection using a digital system. Avoiding suction (-8 cmH2O) significantly shortened chest tube duration without affecting hospital stay or prolonged air leak rates. Continuous suction was independently associated with delayed…

Piotr Jerzy Skrzypczak, Tomasz Dobiecki, Monika Rozmiarek, Piotr Gabryel, Mariusz Kasprzyk, Cezary Piwkowski  |  November 4, 2025

This prospective randomized trial compared intrapleural 40% glucose with autologous blood patch pleurodesis for postoperative air leak after anatomical lung resection. Glucose pleurodesis achieved higher air‑leak resolution rates and shorter hospital stay, with a similar safety profile and no increase in reoperation. Chest drain management was protocolized using -8 cmH2O, with…

Kazuya Takamochi, Makoto Endo, Kazuhito Funai, Tomohiro Haruki, Morihito Okada, Masahiro Tsuboi, Yoshitaka Kitamura, Shiaki Oh, Shuko Nojiri, Kenji Suzuki, and the Advanced Clinical Trial Chest Surgery Group (ACTG)  |  August 29, 2025

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…

Conor M. Maxwell, Benny Weksler, Kevin Shahbahrami, Brent Williams, Kurt DeHaven, Pam Kuchta, Kara Specht, and Hiran C. Fernando  |  July 31, 2025

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…