Are Chest Drains Routinely Required After Thoracic Surgery? A Drainology Study of On-Table Chest Drain Removals
This study reports outcomes of protocolized management of chest drain removal on-table for patients undergoing wedge resections and minor thoracic procedures. Chest drains were removed at the end of the operation if air leak was < 20 ml/min. Between 2016 and 2021, 107 patients underwent on-table chest drain removal with a 0.9 percent reintervention rate. Safe on-table chest drain removal using digital drainage in select cases challenges the need for routine drain insertion in thoracic surgery.
interesting video accompanying a patient-cantered retrospective study. The radiologic incidence of post-VATS pneumothorax is also interesting and perhaps merits further evaluation by high-resolution CT thorax as a prospective trial.
The meticulous technique of drain removal and the succinct discussion in the video demonstration would be of interest to allied health professionals.