• Jonathan Minagogo Hart, Anwar Mohammed Hussien, Samuel Tesfaye, Siyasebew Mamo Nadamo, Mekonnen Feyissa Senbu, Desalegn Fekadu Wadaja, Isreal Tadesse Bacha, and Hiwot Gebeyehu Tebeje.
• From the Department of Surgery, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Hart, Bacha, Tebeje).
• J. Am. Coll. Surg. 2023 Jun 1; 236 (6): 121712311217-1231.

BackgroundDraining the chest cavity with 2 tubes is a common practice among thoracic surgeons. This research was conducted in Addis Ababa from March 2021 to May 2022. A total of 62 patients were included.Study DesignThis study was conducted to investigate the superiority of either single or double tube insertion after decortication. Patients were randomized in a ratio of 1:1. In group A, 2 tubes were inserted; in group B, single 32F tubes were inserted. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0, Student's t test and Pearson chi-square test.ResultsThe age range of patients was 18 to 70 years, with a mean of 44 ± 14.4434 years; the male to female ratio was 2.9:1. The dominant underlying pathologies were tuberculosis and trauma (45.2% vs 35.5%); the right side was more involved (62.3%). Drain output was 1,465 ± 1,887.9751 mL in group A vs 1,018 ± 802.5662 mL in group B (p value = 0.00001); the duration of drains was 7.5498 ± 11.3137 days in group A vs 3.8730 ± 1.4142 days in group B (p value = 0.000042). The degree of pain was 2.6458 ± 4.2426 vs 2.000 ± 2.1213 in group A and group B, respectively (p value = 0.326757). The length of hospital stay was 21.5818 ± 11.9791 days in group A vs 13.6091 ± 6.2048 days in group B (p value = 0.00001). Group A had air leak of 90.3% vs 74.2% in group B; subcutaneous emphysema was 9.7% in group A and 12.9% in group B. There was no fluid recollection, and no patients required tube reinsertion.ConclusionsThe placement of a single tube after decortication is effective in reducing drain output, time of drain, and hospital stay. There was no association with pain, and there was no effect on other endpoints.Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Surgeons.

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