Flutter valve drainage bag is a useful device for the pleural drainage.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to compare the use of the flutter valve pleural drainage bag and the conventional underwater seal system for the pleural drainage in the treatment of pneumothorax and pleural effusion.


METHODS
Altogether fifty patients who needed the pleural drainage at our hospital between February and October 1999 were randomized to this prospective study either into the flutter valve pleural drainage group or into the conventional underwater seal pleural drainage group, 25 patients in each.


RESULTS
In the conventional underwater seal system group, the mean drainage time was 4.1 (SD +/- 4.0) days and in the flutter valve drainage bag group 4.8 (SD +/- 4.9) days (difference -0.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) -3.3 to 1.8). The mean length of hospitalization was 16.3 (SD +/- 20.9) days and 18.7 (SD +/- 27.0) respectively (difference -2.4, 95% CI -16.1 to 11.3).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that flutter valve drainage bag is a safe and feasible system in the most cases when pleural drainage is needed in the treatment of pneumothorax and pleural effusion.
Vuorisalo
S
S
Department of Surgery, Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori, Finland. sailaritta.vuorisalo@fimnet.fi
Hannukainen
J
J
Aarnio
P
P
D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010994:Pleura; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies