Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Author Spotlight: Simulating Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Using a Neonatal Piglet Model
04:55

Author Spotlight: Simulating Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Using a Neonatal Piglet Model

Published on: May 26, 2023

740

Optimizing Recovery: Early Versus Delayed Chest Tube Removal in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Randomized

Abdulraouf M Z Jijeh1,2,3, Ghassan A Shaath1,2,3, Sameh R Ismail1,2,3

  • 1Department of Cardiac Sciences, Division of Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Critical Care Explorations
|June 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Early chest tube removal in pediatric cardiac surgery significantly shortens chest tube duration without increasing complications. This evidence-based approach optimizes intensive care unit (ICU) resource use and patient comfort.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric cardiac surgery
  • Thoracic surgery outcomes
  • Intensive care unit management

Background:

  • Chest tube drainage is standard after pediatric cardiac surgery.
  • Prolonged chest tube duration can impact patient comfort and resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety and efficacy of an early chest tube removal protocol.
  • To determine if early removal reduces chest tube duration without increasing complications in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.

Main Methods:

  • A single-center randomized controlled trial involving 215 pediatric patients.
  • Patients were randomized to either early (< 6 mL/kg drainage over 8 hours) or late (24-hour assessment) chest tube removal.
  • Primary outcome was chest tube duration; secondary outcomes included ICU stay, ventilation time, hospital stay, and complications.

Main Results:

  • Median chest tube duration was significantly shorter in the early removal group (3 days) versus the late removal group (4.9 days).
  • Rates of fluid reaccumulation and pneumothorax were low and similar between groups.
  • No patients required chest tube reinsertion; ICU and hospital stays were comparable.

Conclusions:

  • An early chest tube removal protocol effectively reduces chest tube duration in pediatric cardiac surgery.
  • This approach is safe, with no increase in complications, supporting its adoption.
  • Early removal enhances patient comfort and optimizes ICU resource utilization.
Abstract

Keywords:
cardiac surgical procedurechest tubeschildcongenitaldrainageheart defectspleural effusion

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