How safe is to discharge home patients with a chest tube in place? Narrative review
This review suggests that outpatient management with a chest tube in situ for prolonged air leak or excessive pleural drainage can reduce hospital length of stay and may be cost‑effective, aligning with ERAS principles. However, evidence regarding readmissions and complications, particularly empyema, remains mixed. These findings support selective use of ambulatory chest drain management while highlighting the need for careful patient selection, monitoring, and further prospective evaluation.
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