Chest tube-free video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery secured by quantitative air leak monitoring: a case series.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although chest tube-omitted video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been proven to be safe and efficacious, its universal application is precluded by a varying morbidity rate due to a lack of standardization. Since digital chest drainage has already shown improved accuracy and consistency in the management of postoperative air leak, we incorporated it in the strategy of intraoperative chest tube withdrawal, aiming to achieve better results.

Methods

We collected the clinical data of 114 consecutive patients who underwent elective uniportal VATS pulmonary wedge resection at the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from May 2021 to February 2022. Their chest tubes were withdrawn intraoperatively after an air-tightness test facilitated by digital drainage: the end flow

SUBMITTER: Li Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9922591 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature