The benefits of digital chest drainage in pleural decortication in thoracic empyema. Prospective, randomised, control trial

Abstract

Abstract Background Prolonged air leak after pleural decortication is one of the most frequent complications. Objective The aim of this study is to compare the effects of prolonged air leak between the digital chest drainage (DCD) system and the classic drainage system in patients with empyema class IIB or III (American Thoracic Society classification) in pleural decortication patients. Material and methods A total of 37 patients were enrolled in a prospective randomised control trial over one year, consisting of 2 blinded groups, comparing prolonged air leak as a main outcome, the number of days until removal of chest drain, length of hospital stay and complications as secondary outcomes. Results The percentage of prolonged air leak was 11% in the DCD group and 5% in the classic group (p = 0.581); the mean number of days of air leak was 2.5±1.8 and 2.4±2.2, respectively (p = 0.966). The mean number of days until chest tube removal was 4.5±1.8 and 5.1±2.5 (p = 0.41), the length of hospital stay was 7.8±3.7 and 8.9±4.0 (p = 0.441) and the complication percentages were 4 (22%) and 7 (36%), respectively (p = 0.227). Discussion In this study, no significant difference was observed when the DCD was compared with the classic system. This was the first randomised clinical trial for this indication; thus, future complementing studies are warranted.