Abstract
The Thopaz chest drain system is a portable suction unit which allows mobilization of the patient, with digital flow recordings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Thopaz chest drain system in thoracic surgery. First, thirty patients were evaluated over 6 months. Air-leaks within a range of 10-620 ml/min were found. There was no adverse effect due to the device in this clinical trial. The staff were trained in the use and care of the device, and they could improve their level of understanding of it. Second, Thopaz was compared with the current analogue drainage system in 60 patients that underwent pulmonary resection. Patients' background and types of pulmonary resection were not different between the groups. The Thopaz system has been shown to make it easier to walk after surgery and reduce the duration of chest drainage. Thus, the Thopaz system was found to be generally well tolerated after lung surgery.
