Suction versus non-suction drainage strategy after uniportal thoracoscopic lung surgery: a prospective cohort study

• Published in: Journal of thoracic disease 2024-04, Vol.16 (4), p.2285-2295
• Main Authors: Qiu, Yang, Zhou, Jian, Wu, Dongsheng, Luo, Ailin, Yang, Mei, Zheng, Quan, Wang, Tengyong, Pu, Qiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2072-1439; 2077-6624
• DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-1852

The postoperative outcomes of suction drainage versus non-suction drainage after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UniVATS) come with little consensus. This study aimed to prospectively compare the postoperative outcomes of suction drainage versus non-suction drainage in patients who underwent UniVATS. Between October 2022 and January 2023, patients undergoing UniVATS were prospectively enrolled. The choice of drainage strategy (suction or non-suction) was at the surgeon's discretion. The primary outcome was chest tube duration, with secondary outcomes including postoperative drainage volume, pain scores, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization cost. Baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes were compared. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify risk factors for postoperative outcomes. A total of 206 patients were enrolled in this study, with 103 patients in each group. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced. The chest tube duration did not significantly differ between the two groups. However, suction drainage exhibited a significantly lower total drainage volume compared to non-suction drainage (280.00 400.00 mL, P=0.03). Suction drainage was associated with a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay (3.00 4.00 days, P