All patients undergo lateral thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and are operated on by the same thoracic surgical team. All patients are managed with gravity drainage (water seal only, without suction) on the day of operation. Eligible patients are randomized to control group or clamping group at a 1:1 ratio before 3pm on the postoperative day. Patients in control group and those in clamping group are managed with different protocols after 3pm on the postoperative day.
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chest tube drainage duration
Timeframe: From date of operation until the date of chest tube removal, assessed up to 10 days