Use of small-bore silastic drains in general thoracic surgery

Study Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of small-bore, silastic drains for patients undergoing general thoracic surgery. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five patients who received soft, small-bore, silastic drains were compared with 17 patients who received semi-rigid double lumen (DL) tubes retrospectively. Results: The pain score was significantly lower in patients who received the silastic tubes in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) cases on postoperative days 5 and 6, after continuous epidural analgesia had finished (P=0.018). No specific morbidity was seen in the patients who received silastic tubes. Conclusion: We considered that soft, small-bore silastic drains were just as effective as traditional DL tubes, but caused less pain especially in VATS cases.