A simple size-tailored algorithm for the removal of chest drain following minimally invasive lobectomy : a prospective randomized study
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Abstract
Background
The pleural space can resorb 0.11–0.36 ml/kg of body weight/hour (h) per hemithorax. There are only a limited number of studies on thresholds for chest drain removal (CDR) and all are based on arbitrary amounts, for example, 300 ml/day. We studied an individualized size-based threshold for CDR–specifically 5 ml/kg, a simple, easily applicable measure.
Methods
This is a single-center prospective randomized trial enrolling 80 patients undergoing VATS lobectomy. There were two groups: an experimental (E) group, in which once the daily output went down to 5 ml/kg the chest drain was removed and a control (C) group, with chest drain removal as per our current practice of less than 250 ml/day.
Results
The groups did not differ in pre- and peri- and postoperative characteristics, except for chest drain duration (mean, SD 2.02 ± 0.97 vs. 3.25 ± 1.39 days, p < 0.001) and length of hospital stay (median, IQR 4.5; 3 vs. 6; 2.75 days, p = 0.008) in favor of E group. The re-intervention rate was the same in both groups (once in each group).
Conclusion
The new threshold for chest drain removal following thoracoscopic lobectomy of 5 ml/kg/d leads to both shorter chest drainage and hospital stay without apparent increase in morbidity. (Clinical registration number: DRKS00014252).
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Surgical endoscopy and other interventional techniques, 36, Springer, New York, NY, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-021-08905-0