Reduction in drain-related adverse events using the barbed suture method for chest tube wound closure.

OBJECTIVE: A chest tube is usually placed in patients undergoing general thoracic surgery. Although the barbed suture method has been introduced for chest tube wound closure, its superiority to the conventional suture methods for drain management remains unclear. The study aimed to determine whether the barbed suture method could reduce drain-related adverse events compared to the conventional method. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent general thoracic surgery between January 2021 and December 2022, 1 year before and after the introduction of the barbed suture method at our institution. Patients who underwent the barbed suture or conventional method were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses of drain-related adverse events were performed. RESULTS: Of the 250 participants, 110 and 140 underwent the barbed suture method and conventional suture method, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that a higher body mass index, preoperative malignant diagnosis, lobectomy, longer operative time, larger tube size, longer chest drainage duration, surgical complications, and conventional method were risk factors for drain-related adverse events. The multivariate analysis showed that the barbed suture method was a protective factor against drain-related adverse events (odds ratio 0.267; 95% confidence interval 0.103-0.691; P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The barbed suture method could reduce drain-related adverse events compared to the conventional method. Therefore, it might be a potential standard method for chest tube wound closure in patients undergoing general thoracic surgery.

Effective exchange to a larger size catheter for a lung abscess with initial percutaneous drainage failure: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous catheter drainage is an effective therapy for antibiotic-refractory lung abscesses. Pulmonary resection is usually considered in cases of drainage failure, although it remains controversial. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old man with antibiotic-refractory lung abscess underwent percutaneous abscess drainage with a 10-Fr pigtail catheter. However, adequate evacuation of the abscess content was not achieved, and his respiratory condition worsened and he required a ventilator. To achieve and maintain effective drainage, insertion of a larger size 28-Fr catheter to replace the 10-Fr catheter was performed under general anesthesia and one-lung ventilation with a double-lumen tube to isolate the left lung. Exchange with a larger size catheter was effective and achieved adequate drainage. The procedure was performed safely by expanding the route of the old catheter as a guide for accessing the abscess cavity. His condition immediately improved and he was discharged on day 40 post-catheter exchange with no complications and cured with a small residual thin wall cavity. CONCLUSIONS: Small size catheters are generally recommended for initial percutaneous drainage; however, we argue that exchange with larger size catheters should be primarily considered instead of pulmonary resection in cases of initial drainage failure. This may avoid the need for pulmonary resection.