Aamir Bilal, Muslim M, Salim M, Nabi M S, Haider Shah, Ali Abbas, Zaman M.
Use of continuous low pressure suction on chest drain in thoracic surgical unit.
Pak J Chest Med Jan ;11(2):3-8.

Objective: To assess the merits and demerits of continuous Low Pressure Suction applied to the chest drain in both preoperative and postoperative thoracic patients. Place and Duration: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from Jan 2005 to March 2005. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective study carried out over the period of three months to assess the benefits of Low Pressure Suction. Patients with Chest trauma, inflammatory disease of the lung & pleura, carcinomas and postoperative patients were included in the study. Patients with multiple trauma and moribund patients were excluded from the study. Postoperative patients were given priority for suction beds. The suction applied to the chest drain ranged from -05 to -20 KPa. It was continuously applied to the chest drain 24hrs a day & 7 days a week and only interrupted at the time of bottle change or patients going to toilets. A total of 180 patients were included in the study, which were divided into two groups depending upon the availability of suction beds. Group I: Included those patients who were put on Continuous Low Pressure Suction. Group II: Included those patients who were not put on Continuous Low Pressure Suction because lack of suction beds Ninety patients were included in group I and similar number of patients into group II. Results: In group I out of 90 patients 40 were non-operative and 50 were operative. In group II out of 90 patients 55 were non-operative while 35 were operative. Out of operated patients (total 85) full lung expansion was achieved in 42 (84%) in group I and 25 (71.4%) in group ll while partial lung expansion was achieved in 08 (16%) in group I and 10 (28.6%) patients in group II. Out of non-operated patients (total 95) full expansion was achieved in 35 (87.5%) in group I and 42 (76.4%) in group II while partial expansion was achieved in 05 (12.5%) patients in group I and 13 (23.6%) in group II. Out of 5 partial expansions in group I suction had to be discontinued in 2 patients because of increasing air leak. Conclusion: Continuous low pressure suction helps to decrease the need for surgery in patients following chest trauma, inflammatory lung disease and decreases morbidity in postoperative patients.

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