Comparison consequences of Jackson-Pratt drain versus chest tube after coronary artery bypass grafting: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Chest tubes are standard post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to manage fluid and blood around the heart and lungs.
• Conventional chest drains are widely used, but their effectiveness and patient impact warrant further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of Jackson-Pratt drains versus conventional chest tubes in patients undergoing CABG.
• To assess outcomes including pleural effusions, pain, tamponade, atrial fibrillation, and length of stay.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 218 patients undergoing CABG.
• Patients were randomized to receive either a Jackson-Pratt drain (n=109) or conventional double chest tubes (n=109).
• Outcomes measured included pleural effusions, pain scores, cardiac tamponade, atrial fibrillation, and hospital/ICU length of stay.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in the incidence of pleural effusions between the two groups.
• Jackson-Pratt drain group showed significantly lower frequencies of cardiac tamponade and atrial fibrillation (AF).
• Pain scores at 2 hours were higher in the Jackson-Pratt drain group, but the overall trend was not significantly different.

Conclusions:

• Jackson-Pratt drains are equally effective as conventional chest tubes for preventing cardiac tamponade, pleural effusions, and managing pain intensity post-CABG.
• Jackson-Pratt drains demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing hospital and Intensive Care Unit length of stay and the incidence of AF.