Open AccessPleural drainage after transthoracic esophagectomy: experience with a vacuum system
Author(s) -
Law Simon,
Boey JirPing,
Kwok KaFai,
Wong KamHo,
Chu KentMan,
Wong John
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
diseases of the esophagus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-2050
pISSN - 1120-8694
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-2050.2004.00380.x
Subject(s) - medicine , drainage , esophagectomy , surgery , pleural cavity , underwater , chest tube , esophageal cancer , cancer , geology , ecology , pneumothorax , oceanography , biology
SUMMARY. Conventional pleural cavity drainage after esophagectomy involves one to two large‐bore drainage tubes connected to underwater bottles. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of a small mobile vacuum drainage system. Out of 173 patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy, 167 (97%) had the vacuum drain successfully placed at the end of the operation. Of those, use of the vacuum drain was uneventful for 131 until its removal (78%). Air leaks necessitating connection to underwater drainage occurred in 34 patients (20%), but in 26 of them this was only temporary. Overall success was therefore achieved in 157 patients (94%). Median in‐situ placement of the vacuum drain was 4 days, and 85% of patients had their drains removed by the seventh postoperative day. The presence of lung adhesions significantly increased the need for underwater drainage. Postoperative outcomes were no different from a historical cohort with conventional underwater drainage. No drain‐related complications were reported. The vacuum drain is an alternative to the conventional, large‐bore, chest tube system after transthoracic esophagectomy.