A randomized trial of early versus delayed mediastinal drain removal after cardiac surgery using silastic and conventional tubes.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Mediastinal drainage following cardiac surgery with traditional large-bore plastic tubes can be painful and cumbersome. This study was designed to determine whether prolonged drainage (5 days) with a silastic tube decreased the incidence of significant pericardial effusion and tamponade following aortic or valvular surgery.

Methods

One hundred and fifty patients undergoing valvular or aortic surgery in a tertiary cardiac surgery institution were randomized to receive a conventional mediastinal tube plus a silastic Blake drain (n = 75), or two conventional tubes (n = 75). Conventional drains were removed on postoperative day (POD) 1, while Blake drains were removed on POD 5. The primary end-point was the combined incidence of significant pericardial effusion (≥ 15

SUBMITTER: Moss E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3686392 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature