Outpatient Chest Tube Management with Using a Panda Pneumothorax Set with a Heimlich Valve

Choi, Soon Ho; Lee, Mi Kyung; Ryu, Dae Woong

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Prolonged air leakage and pleural fluid drainage from a chest tube may delay removing the chest tube after a patient undergoes video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection and the patient is otherwise ready for discharge. We reviewed 37 outpatients patients who were being managed with a postoperative chest tube (a Panda Pneumothorax set with a Heimlich valve). MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 2005 to December 2007, 294 patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resections & pleurodesis. Of them, 37 patients met the criteria for outpatient chest drainage management with using a Panda Pneumothorax set with a Heimlich valve. The patients received written instructions, and they demonstrated competence with using the Panda system. The patients returned for chest tube removal after satisfactory resolution of their air leak and pleural fluid drainage. RESULT: The patients discharged with a Panda pneumothorax set had a longer duration of hospital stay (mean: 10.3+/-1.7 days, range: 11 to 17 days) as compared with the patients without a Panda pneumothorax set (mean: 6.2+/-1.5 days, range: 4 to 7 days). The chest tube was removed successfully from the patients with a Panda pneumothorax set at an average of 9.8+/-1.6 days (range: 9~18 days) after discharge. There were no major complications. Four patients experienced minor complications. Thirty six patients (97.3%) experienced uneventful and successful outpatient chest tube management.
CONCLUSION
Successful postoperative outpatient chest tube management with using the Panda set was accomplished in 36 selected patients. This program resulted in a substantially reduced hospital cost and enhanced patient satisfaction by allowing earlier discharge.