Could skipping the chest tube after lung surgery cut pain and hospital time?

NCT ID NCT02829736

Terminated Symptom relief Sponsor: Rigshospitalet, Denmark Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial investigates whether removing the chest tube during thoracoscopic lung surgery, instead of leaving it in place afterward, leads to less pain and faster recovery. Participants undergoing elective wedge resection are randomly assigned to have the tube removed during surgery or kept in standard fashion. The study measures pain levels, lung function, and reasons for hospital stay, aiming to see if tube removal is safe and beneficial.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Intraoperative chest tube removal
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could reduce pain and hospital stay after lung surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial, so results may not apply broadly. There is a risk of needing chest tube reinsertion if air leaks occur.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

lung neoplasm Pain respiratory failure

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DECREASED LUNG FUNCTION DELAYED DISCHARGE PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Rigshospitalet

Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.