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Suction Impact on Chest Drain Duration After Lung Resection: A Study Using Digital Drainage Systems
Dan Levy Faber1,2, Juna Azizi1, Ronen Galili1
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, 7 Michal Street, Haifa 3436212, Israel.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Managing chest drains without suction after lung resection significantly shortens chest tube duration. This approach allows for earlier drain removal without negatively impacting postoperative outcomes, offering a simpler post-operative management strategy.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Chest drains are commonly used after pulmonary resection.
- The role of suction in chest drain management is debated.
- Optimizing chest tube management can improve patient recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of no suction versus continuous suction for chest drains after lung resection.
- To evaluate the impact on chest tube duration and postoperative outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A single-center randomized controlled study.
- 286 patients undergoing lung resection were randomized to Control (continuous suction) or No Suction groups.
- Chest drains were connected to a digital drainage system.
Main Results:
- Chest tube duration was significantly shorter in the No Suction group (40.2 h) compared to the Control group (53.6 h, p = 0.002).
- No significant differences were observed in hospital length of stay or prolonged air leak incidence.
- Suction was associated with a 13-hour longer time to drain removal (p = 0.050).
Conclusions:
- Continuous suction applied to chest drains after lung resection prolongs drainage duration without clinical benefit.
- Managing chest drains with physiologic intrapleural pressure (no suction) may facilitate earlier drain removal.
- This approach should be considered for uncomplicated lung resections.
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