Insertion of two chest tubes is not more effective than the insertion of a single chest tube after pulmonary lobectomy. Moreover, using a single tube is in fact more effective than using two tubes in that it causes less postoperative pain and less pleural fluid loss.

The open decortication for chronic pleural empyaema significantly increases FEV(1) and FVC. Due to the re-expansion of the lung and enlargement of the intercostal spaces, the chest wall deformity also improves considerably after the operation.

Pleural tenting following upper lobectomy or bilobectomy of the lung shortens the duration of chest tube drainage and hospital stay, and it prevents apical residual air spaces and related complications. Pleural tenting is safe and relatively simple procedure, which has no associated morbidity.

No abstract