Chest tube insertion strategy in uniportal thoracoscopic pulmonary resection: A propensity score-matched study

This study aimed to compare a modified chest tube drainage strategy with the traditional method in uniportal thoracoscopic pulmonary resection (U-VATS). We retrospectively analyzed 206 U-VATS patients treated at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (January 2022-December 2023). Patients were divided into a modified group (n = 46) and a traditional group (n = 160) based on drainage strategy. Propensity score matching (1:1) yielded 80 patients for comparison. Baseline characteristics (age, gender, smoking, BMI, lung function, resection extent, etc) showed no significant differences (P > .05). The modified group demonstrated superior outcomes: lower postoperative pain scores and Chronic postsurgical pain (P < .05), shorter extubation operation time, fewer extubation-related complications, reduced rescue analgesia needs, and better wound healing at the drainage site (P < .05). No differences were observed in operative time, drainage duration, volume, or hospital stay (P > .05). The modified drainage strategy is safe and equally effective for fluid management but reduces postoperative pain, accelerates extubation operation, and minimizes complications versus traditional methods. It may optimize recovery in U-VATS patients.