Early chest tube removal after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy with serous fluid production up to 500 ml/day

Abstract

Our findings suggest that chest tube removal after VATS lobectomy is safe despite volumes of serous fluid production up to 500 ml/day. The proportion of patients who developed pleural effusion necessitating reintervention was low (2.8%), and a complication of the reintervention was seen in only 1 patient.