Early removal of the chest tube after complete video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies

Objective: Chest tubes induce morbidity such as pain, decrease mobility, increase the risk of infection, and prolong the length of hospital stays. This study evaluates a chest-tube protocol containing a high-drainage threshold and a short time period of drainage. Methods: A retrospective study was performed with data collected from all elective complete video-assisted thoracoscopic (c-VATS) (bi-)lobectomies between March 2006 and December 2009. All patients had one chest-tube, postoperatively. The chest tube was removed if there was no air leakage and there was a drainage volume of 400 ml (24 h)(-1) or less. We aimed to remove the chest tube on postoperative day 1. Results: This series consists of 110 lobectomies and six bilobectomies. The median duration of chest-tube placement was 1.0 day. In 58.8% of patients (confidence interval (CI) 95%: 49.5-68.0), the drain was removed within 24 h of operation and in 82.5% (CI 95%: 74.2-88.7) within 48 h. In six (6.2%) patients, subcutaneous emphysema developed while the drain was still in place, and was treated with removal of the drain. Persistent air leakage was seen in four (3.4%) patients. One (0.9%) persisting pneumothorax was diagnosed. A pneumothorax after removal of the drain was not diagnosed. No major complications developed in 98 patients (84.5%). The median day of discharge was postoperative day 4. Conclusions: This study shows it is safe, after c-VATS (bi-)lobectomy, to remove the chest tube within 24 h in 58.8%, and within 48 h in 82.5% of patients. As was also shown in other studies, this leads to shorter length of hospital stays, lower costs, and most importantly, reduces patient morbidity without the added risk of complications. (C) 2010 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.