To evaluate the efficacy and safety of single negative pressure drainage tube after thoracoscopic esophagectomy surgery.

From January 2014 to January 2017, 83 patients with esophageal cancer admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University were selected and divided into two groups according to the different drainage tubes used during the operation: negative-pressure drainage tube group which included 40 cases and conventional drainage tube group which included 43 cases. Pleural effusion, dropsy, subcutaneous emphysema, total volume of thoracic drainage, drainage tube duration, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative stitch removal time of drainage tube, incision healing rate, relevant complications, incision VAS pain scores and other indicators were compared.

Baseline data and postoperative pleural effusion, dropsy, subcutaneous emphysema, defective rate of incision healing, average hospital stay time, duration of drainage tube, and incidence of relative complications were not statistically significant between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared to negative-pressure drainage tube group, for patients in conventional group, the thoracic drainage volume was significantly decreased; the scar reaction rate was significantly reduced; the stitch-removal time was significantly shortened; and the VAS pain score was significantly reduced. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).

Single negative pressure drainage tube is safe and effective after thoracoscopic radical resection of esophageal carcinoma, and it has the same clinical effect as conventional 28F thoracic duct and it is helpful for patients to recover quickly after operation.