Objective: To compare thoracic drainage tube placement on clinical outcomes and serum CRP, IL-6, cortisol in patients undergoing thoracoscopic partial pneumonectomy.
Study design: Analytical study.
Place and duration of study: Yulin Second Hospital, China, between January 2017 and January 2022. Methodology: Eighty-four patients with lung cancer who underwent thoracoscopic partial pneumonectomy were studied. A thoracic drainage tube was placed postoperatively (Group A, n=41). Otherwise, a thoracic drainage tube was not placed if an air leak was not detected in the suction-induced leak test postoperatively (Group B, n=43). Difference effect was compared.
Results: Postoperative hospitalisation time and incidence of postoperative subcutaneous emphysema in Group A were lower than those in Group B (p<0.001 and p=0.038 respectively). On the 1st day before surgery, the differences in serum CRP, IL-6, and cortisol were not significant between the two groups (p= 0.443, 0.644, and 0.738 respectively); on the 1st day after surgery, levels of serum CRP, IL-6, and cortisol in Group A were lower than those in Group B (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.001 respectively).
Conclusion: Postoperative hospitalisation time and the frequency of postoperative subcutaneous emphysema were lower in patients of thoracoscopic partial pneumonectomy without placing thoracic drainage tubes. The degree of surgery-induced stress was also lower. The decision not to leave the thoracic drainage tube may be considered reasonable and safe if the criteria are carefully selected.
Key words: Thoracoscopy, Thoracic tube drainage, Partial pneumonectomy, Cortisol, IL-6, CRP level.