Clinical application of a multi-groove silicone drain combined with unidirectional negative-pressure drainage system in single-operating-port video-assisted thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery: a comparison study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a new negative-pressure drainage system in thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery; thereby, providing a new option for postoperative drainage. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data for 200 patients who underwent thoracoscopic surgery between May 2018 and October 2019. According to the thoracic drainage method, the patients were divided into the thoracic tube group and the new system group. The epidemiological and clinicopathological data were compared before operation, and the clinical effect of thoracic drainage was compared after operation. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in epidemiological and clinicopathological data between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in drain removal time, hospital stay, and complication rates between the two groups. However, the incidences of pleural effusion and poor incision healing in the new system group were lower than in the thoracic tube group. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores in the new system group were lower than those in the thoracic tube group at each postoperative interval; therefore, the new system group required less analgesia. CONCLUSION: The new system was not inferior to thoracic tubes regarding the drainage effect after thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery. Hence, the system is an alternative to traditional thoracic tubes.