Objective: This study was designed to analyze the duration of chest tube dr
ainage on pain intensity and distribution after cardiac surgery. Methods: T
wo groups of 80 cardiac surgery adult patients, operated on in two differen
t hospitals, by the same group of cardiac surgeons, and with similar postop
erative strategies, were compared. However, in one hospital (long drainage
group), a conservative policy was adopted with the removal the chest tubes
by postoperative day (POD)2 or 3, while in the second hospital (short drain
age group), all the drains were usually removed on POD 1. Results: There wa
s a trend toward less pain in the short drainage group, with a statisticall
y significant difference on POD 2 (P = 0.047). There were less patients wit
hout pain on POD 3 in the long drainage group (P = 0.01). The areas corresp
onding to the tract of the pleural tube, namely the epigastric area, the le
ft basis of the thorax, and the left shoulder were more often involved in t
he long drainage group, There were three pneumonias in each group and no pa
tient required repeated drainage. Conclusions: A policy of early chest drai
n ablation limits pain sensation and simplifies nursing care, without incre
asing the need for repeated pleural puncture. Therefore, a policy of short
drainage after cardiac surgery should be recommended. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci
ence B.V. All rights reserved.