Chest dRain rEmoval intrAoperatively afTer thoracOscopic Wedge Resection
Denmark94 participantsStarted 2022-05-04
Plain-language summary
Chest drain is used routinely after lung surgery. Despite preliminary studies demonstrate the feasibility and safety of intraoperative chest drain removal, these are either retrospective or mainly concerning benign disease.
Hypothesis: Participants treated without post-operative chest tube after thoracoscopic wedge resection have less pain, reduced opioid usage without increasing postoperative complications than participants treated with standard post-operative chest tube, and could possibly be discharged earlier.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥18 years.
* Patients referred for elective three port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery wedge resection of the lung for suspected or confirmed malignant nodules.
* first second forced expiratory volume ≥60% of expected.
* No increased bleeding risk (e.g. preoperative international normalized ratio \>2, overdue discontinuation of anticoagulants according to guidelines by the Danish Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, known coagulopathy).
* Not scheduled for frozen section pathology of wedge resection and subsequent lobectomy.
* Able and willing to give informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Increased risk of post-operative air leak assessed perioperatively by the surgeon (e.g. severe adhesions, bullous/emphysematous lung tissue, defects of the visceral pleura due to iatrogenic or other reasons, suturing in the lung tissue, deep lung resection).
* Increased risk of post-operative bleeding assessed perioperatively by the surgeon (e.g. intraoperative bleeding or oozing).
* Air leak during intraoperative air leak test.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.