How soon should we remove a chest drain following anatomic lung resection?
This review highlights that chest drain duration is a key determinant of recovery after anatomical lung resection and that considerable variation remains in drain removal practices. Evidence suggests that digital drainage systems combined with objective air leak–based protocols can safely expedite chest tube removal, often by postoperative day 1. The authors argue that future chest drain management should move toward selective drain placement, including consideration of drainless approaches in appropriately selected patients.
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