Is it safe and feasible to use multi-lateral-pores drainage strategy after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery?

Evidence-based studies optimizing chest tube management have been conducted to accelerate the recovery process for lung cancer patients after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This study is to evaluate whether using the multi-lateral pores chest tube can achieve better drainage performance than conventional-lateral-pore drainage. Data from patients undergoing VATS were consecutively collected from September 2023 to June 2024. The groups were randomized into two subgroups, which were multi-lateral-pores drainage group (MDG) and conventional-lateral-pore drainage group (CDG). The primary outcomes included chest drainage performance, and the secondary outcomes included postoperative complications (PPCs). After screening, 228 patients were randomized into two groups, in which 116 patients in MDG and 112 patients in CDG. The daily drainage volume [199.70 (95%CI: 165.19~234.99) mL/d vs 149.43 (95%CI: 120.70~179.21) mL/d, P