title: Efficacy assessment of the drainage with permanent airflow measurement in the treatment of pneumothorax with air leak.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the treatment of patients with spontaneous pneumothorax with air leak (AL) using two different chest drainage systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized into two groups: group A included 30 patients (23 males and 7 females, mean age 41.1 ± 16.29 y, range 17-71 y) in which digital drainage system was used, group B with 30 patients (22 males and 8 females, mean age 40.3 ± 15.74 y, range 18-72 y) in which traditional suction drainage system was applied.The following variables were evaluated: intensity of AL, duration of the chest tube drainage, delay in surgery, length of stay, and the overall hospitalization costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group A the mean drainage duration was 47.63 hours, the hospitalization time was about 5.10 days, and the cost of hospitalization was €1,495. In group B the mean drainage duration was 84.93 hours, the hospitalization time was 6.97 days, and the hospitalization cost was €1,925.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The digital drainage system applied in the treatment of AL in patients with pneumothoraces reduced the duration of the drainage, the length of hospital stay, and overall hospitalization costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Łódź, 113 Żeromskiego Street, 90-549 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jablonski
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Łódź, 113 Żeromskiego Street, 90-549 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brocki
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Łódź, 113 Żeromskiego Street, 90-549 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wawrzycki
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Łódź, 113 Żeromskiego Street, 90-549 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek Arkadiusz
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smigielski
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Łódź, 113 Żeromskiego Street, 90-549 Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozakiewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015505:Chest Tubes; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D011044:Poland; D013396:Suction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult