title: A Single Institution Evaluation of the Performance of Two Different Chest Drainage Systems in Pediatric Patients after Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study compares the efficacy and advantages of two different drainage systems in pediatric patients during surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 200 consecutive pediatric patients (< 16 years) were enrolled; in 100 patients we used a polyvinyl chloride drain (PVCD) and in the other 100 we used a silicone drain (SD). Demographics, drain's technical data, and postoperative complications and costs were evaluated. A pain score was calculated in patients older than 6 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SDs were significantly smaller when compared with PVCDs (median of 1.63 vs. 3.09 French/kg, p = 0.0006), were kept in site for a median shorter period (23 vs. 40 hours, p = 0.002), drained more thoracic spaces (median of 2 vs. 1, p < 0.0001), and were associated to a lower pain score (p = 0.01). The overall drain-related complication rate was lower for the SD group than for the PVCD group (3 vs. 9%, p = 0.1) as well as the drain-related adverse event required additional interventional maneuvers (0 vs. 6%, p = 0.04). Patients who were treated with a PVCD reported a higher perceived pain score than patients treated with a SD, both at the time when the drain was in site (p = 0.016) and during the drain's removal (p = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SDs can be used safely in pediatric patients during surgery for CHD. Sizes required are smaller than other conventional drains and multiple cavities can be drained with a single tube. The use of SD is associated to a lower complication rate, lower requirement of additional procedures, and lesser perceived pain from the patient, when compared with other more traditional drains.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Vladimiro L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Vida
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barzon
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Veruska
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Olivato
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Franceschi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Alvise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guariento
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Padalino
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stellin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D015505:Chest Tubes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012828:Silicones; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride