To compare the effect of single-tube drainage with that of two-tube drainange in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients with VATS upper-lobectomy.

Between August 2012 and August 2014, 100 NSCLC patients who had received VATS upper-lobectomy performed by a single surgeon were prospectively enrolled and randomly classified into a single-tube drainage group(A) and a two-tube drainage group(B), consisting of 49 and 51 patients respectively. Upper-lobectomy and systematic mediastinal node dissection or sampling were performed in all cases. Clinical and surgical variables were collected prospectively.

There were no significant differences in demographic and pathologic features between two groups. The amount/duration of drainage, the postoperative hospitalization days, postoperative morbidity and mortality between two groups showed no significant difference either. Group A patients had significantly lower VAS pain scores in the second day(4.06±0.97 vs 4.47±0.86, P=0.027) and one month after surgery(1.31±0.68 vs 1.61±0.64, P=0.024) compared with group B patients.

Single-tube drainage is as safe and effective as the conventional use of two-tube drainage after VATS upper-lobectomy in NSCLC patients. Moreover, single-tube drainage can relieve the post-operative pain for the patients.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; Carcinoma, non-small-cell lung; Pulmonary upper-lobectomy; Closed chest drainage; Visual analogue scale