title: Use of a one-way flutter valve drainage system in the postoperative period following lung resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pleural drainage using a one-way flutter valve following elective lung resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study, with descriptive analysis, of 39 lung resections performed using a one-way flutter valve to achieve pleural drainage during the postoperative period. Patients less than 12 years of age were excluded, as were those submitted to pneumonectomy or emergency surgery, those who were considered lost to follow-up and those in whom water-seal drainage was used as the initial method of pleural drainage. Lung expansion, duration of the drainage, hospital stay and postoperative complications were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 36 patients were included and analyzed in this study. The mean duration of pleural drainage was 3.0 +/- 1.6 days. At 30 days after the surgical procedure, chest X-ray results were considered normal for 34 patients (95.2%). Postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients (22.4%) and were related to the drainage system in 3 (8.4%) of those.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a one-way flutter valve following elective lung resection was effective, was well tolerated and presented a low rate of complications.
authors.affiliation: Barão de Mauá University Center, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. navega11@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Nelson de Araujo
authors.initials: Nde A
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Hugo Alejandro Vega
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Alfio José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tincani
authors.forename: Ivan Felizardo Contrera
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Toro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000592:standards*; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult