Active or passive chest drainage after oesophagectomy in 101 patients: a prospective randomized study

This study evaluates the efficiency and safety of two methods of chest drainage after uncomplicated oesophagectomy.

A prospective randomized study between active suction drainage and passive chest drainage was carried out in 101 patients who underwent gastric pull-up oesophagectomy.

No difference in the prevalence of pneumothorax during treatment was noted between the active (nine of 55) and the passive (four of 46) drainage groups (P=0.20). Nor was there any difference in the size (P=0.46) and duration (P=0.53) of the pneumothorax. There was no significant difference in right (P=0.84) and left (P=0.61) basal atelectases and the amounts of right (P=0.10) and left (P=0.24) pleural effusions. There were significantly more basal atelectases (P < 0.001) and pleural effusions (P<0.001) in the non-operated left side compared with the operated right side. Postoperative hospital stay was the same in both groups (median 13 days; P=0.86). The hospital mortality rate was two of 101, and was not affected by the type of drainage.

Passive drainage did not reduce hospital stay, but was as safe and effective as the active system in draining the pleural cavity after uncomplicated oesophagectomy.