Effectiveness of chest tube placement via the utility incision in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy on residual pleural effusion
This retrospective study compared chest drain placement through the utility incision versus a separate port following uniportal VATS lobectomy. Utility‑incision placement achieved equivalent pleural fluid management, with less early postoperative pleural effusion and significantly shorter chest tube duration despite use of a smaller drain. Hospital stay and complication rates were similar between groups. These findings suggest that chest drain position may influence drainage efficiency and support utility‑incision placement as an effective, minimally invasive chest drain management strategy after lobectomy.
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