BACKGROUND: Draining the chest cavity with 2 tubes is a common practice among thoracic surgeons. This research was conducted in Addis Ababa from March 2021 to May 2022. A total of 62 patients were included. STUDY DESIGN: This study was conducted to investigate the superiority of either single or double tube insertion after decortication. Patients were randomized in a ratio of 1:1. In group A, 2 tubes were inserted; in group B, single 32F tubes were inserted. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0, Student’s t test and Pearson chi-square test. RESULTS: The age range of patients was 18 to 70 years, with a mean of 44 ± 14.4434 years; the male to female ratio was 2.9:1. The dominant underlying pathologies were tuberculosis and trauma (45.2% vs 35.5%); the right side was more involved (62.3%). Drain output was 1,465 ± 1,887.9751 mL in group A vs 1,018 ± 802.5662 mL in group B (p value = 0.00001); the duration of drains was 7.5498 ± 11.3137 days in group A vs 3.8730 ± 1.4142 days in group B (p value = 0.000042). The degree of pain was 2.6458 ± 4.2426 vs 2.000 ± 2.1213 in group A and group B, respectively (p value = 0.326757). The length of hospital stay was 21.5818 ± 11.9791 days in group A vs 13.6091 ± 6.2048 days in group B (p value = 0.00001). Group A had air leak of 90.3% vs 74.2% in group B; subcutaneous emphysema was 9.7% in group A and 12.9% in group B. There was no fluid recollection, and no patients required tube reinsertion. CONCLUSIONS: The placement of a single tube after decortication is effective in reducing drain output, time of drain, and hospital stay. There was no association with pain, and there was no effect on other endpoints.

Echinococcosis is a re-emerging public health issue in developing countries as most communities are homes to dogs and other domesticated animals while cattle raising is a major habit of most sub-Saharan countries. The usual presentations include liver and lung cysts. While few documentations and publications have been made on extra-pulmonary intrathoracic hydatid cysts in other parts of the world, there has been no published document on extra-pulmonary intrathoracic hydatid cysts consisting of eighty or more cystic masses in a single patient in Ethiopia. We present a case of right sided extra-pulmonary intrathoracic hydatid cysts in a 20-year old Ethiopian male patient with compressive respiratory symptoms and significant social history of cohabiting with dogs throughout childhood. The patient was treated by surgery via a posterolateral thoracotomy and had a smooth Post-operative course and discharged home on postoperative day 15 on albendazole and analgesics. Intraoperative findings included approximately 1500 ml of cystic fluid, eighty cystic masses and collapsed lung.