Design and application of small-diameter closed thoracic drainage tube fixation following lung wedge resection: A randomised prospective study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The use of indwelling closed thoracic drainage tubes in the wedge resection of the lungs is of great significance to postoperative recovery. However, there are potential risks. OBJECTIVE: To explore the design feasibility and application effect of triple-buffer-system-fixed small-diameter (18 F) thoracic closed drainage tubes following lung wedge resection. METHODS: A total of 136 patients with indwelling thoracic drainage tubes following pulmonary wedge resection were recruited, with 70 patients allocated to the control group and 66 to the experimental group. The drainage tube in the experimental group was fixed with the triple-buffer system, while that in the control group was fixed using the conventional lifting platform method. The incidence of unplanned extubation, the indwelling time of the drainage tube and the time and material costs, as well as information regarding any subcutaneous emphysema and skin tension blisters, were recorded following the operation. The pain and degree of comfort were assessed using a chi-square test and a rank sum t-test to compare the differences between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in terms of age, gender and sweating between the two groups. Compared with the control group, the unplanned extubation rate of the experimental group was lower (χ2= 8.513; P= 0.004), the indwelling time of the drainage tube was shorter (t= 2.108; P= 0.037), the cumulative material cost was lower (t= 3.778; P< 0.001), the time cost was also lower (Z= 2.717; P= 0.008), the degree of comfort was higher (Z= 2.752; P= 0.006), and the degree of pain was lower (Z= 4.019; P< 0.001). The incidence of subcutaneous emphysema was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (χ2= 8.513; P= 0.004). CONCLUSION: The use of the triple-buffer system to fix small-diameter (18 F) thoracic closed drainage tubes can reduce the unplanned extubation rate, indwelling time of the drainage tube and the incidence of adverse reactions.