SIMPLIFIED TECHNIQUE FOR THORACIC DRAINAGE AFTER PEDIATRIC ANTERIOR SPINE SURGERY

The authors describe a technique of thoracic drainage after anterior s urgery of the spine in a pediatric population. A comparative study of drainage using the standard chest tube in one group of patients and sm all multiperforated vacuum drainage do not show any difference in term of morbidity. As the modified drainage is best tolerated in term of p ain, easier to take care of and costless, the authors recommand this t echnique in children when hermetic closing of the pleura is possible a nd in absence of air-leakage.