Management of Chest Drains After Thoracic Resections

Immediately after lung resection, air tends to collect in the retrosternal part of the chest wall (in supine position), and fluids in its lower part (costodiaphragmatic sinus). Several general thoracic surgery textbooks currently recommend the placement of 2 chest tubes after major pulmonary resections, one anteriorly, to remove air, and another into the posterior and basilar region, to drain fluids. Recently, several authors advocated the placement of a single chest tube. In terms of air and fluid drainage, this technique demonstrated to be as effective as the conventional one after wedge resection or uncomplicated lobectomy.