Benefits of omitting chest drain after thoracoscopic major lung resection

The usage of chest drains after thoracic surgery was first reported in 1922 and has been a routine part of the procedures since the 1950s (1). Aside from draining the pleural cavity of air and excess fluid, the indication for chest drains is to prevent a possible pneumothorax from evolving into a pressure pneumothorax and to help and guide the surgeons in the decision making of the need for redo- surgery.