Successful use of a single chest drain postlobectomy instead of two classical drains: a randomized study

• Published in: European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery 2006-04, Vol.29 (4), p.562-566
• Main Authors: Gómez-Caro, Abel, Roca, Maria J., Torres, Juan, Cascales, Pedro, Terol, Emilio, Castañer, Juan, Piñero, Antonio, Parrilla, Pascual
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - surgery; Cardiology. Vascular system; Drainage - adverse effects; Drainage - methods; Female; Humans; Length of Stay; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Pain Measurement - methods; Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control; Pneumology; Pneumonectomy; Postoperative Care - methods; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart
• ISSN: 1010-7940; 1873-734X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2006.01.019

To compare surgical results and complications in the immediate postoperative course between the use of a single drain and two-drain post-anatomical pulmonary resections. Between January 2004 and September 2005, 143 patients were scheduled for pulmonary lobectomy or bilobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in our department. Pneumonectomies, wedge resection, and nonresectable thoracotomies were excluded from the study. Hundred and nineteen patients were enrolled in this study. Clinical and surgical variables were collected prospectively. Lobectomy or bilobectomy and systematic mediastinal node dissection were performed in all cases. The patients were randomly assigned to receive single (group A) or two (group B) drains, independent of any preoperative or intraoperative variables. Group A consisted of 60 patients who had one single drain sited in the mid-position and group B consisted of 59 patients who had two classical drains (apical and basal). There were no surgical, oncological, or physiological differences between the groups (p=NS). There were no statistically significant differences detected between the groups in relation to postsurgical morbidity or mortality and other issues studied, except in analgesia requirements (group A less than group B, p0.05). In our study, we did not find significant differences between the use of one or two drains after lobectomy or bilobectomy in relation to early postoperative outcome. However, the use of only one drain is more economical and is less painful for patients, without any additional adverse consequences.