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Purpose <p>Chest drains used after thoracoscopic and open surgery traditionally rely on underwater drain (UWD). While Thopaz+ digital chest drain is NICE-recommended for adults, its usage in paediatric populations is underreported. This quality improvement project (QIP) evaluated the efficacy and safety of adopting Thopaz + in paediatric surgical patients.</p> Methods <p>Thopaz + was introduced in the Paediatric surgery department. Retrospective data were collected for patients undergoing thoracic operations between 10/2022 and 07/2025, including demographics, chest drain indication, drain duration, and complications.</p> Results <p>Of forty-nine patients (aged 1&#xa0;day to 17 years; median age: 2.34 years, IQR 0.29–13.19), 55.10% (<i>N</i> = 27) used Thopaz + and 44.90% (<i>N</i> = 22) used UWD. Thopaz+ group was significantly older (median 12.2 years-old (2.3, 15.1), 95% CI: 6.7–12.0) and heavier (median 44&#xa0;kg (16,55), 95% CI: 29–47) than UWD group (median 0.3years-old (0.0, 1.9), 95% CI: 0.73–5.6; median 12&#xa0;kg (9,16), 95% CI: 11–26), reflecting absence of Thopaz+ adoption for neonates within the trust (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001 for age; <i>p</i> = 0.002 for weight). Thopaz+ trended towards a shorter chest drainage duration, with a median of 2 days (1.0, 6.0; 95% CI 2.1–5.9), vs. median of 3.5 days (2.0, 7.0; 95% CI 1.2–16) with UWD, although not statistically different (<i>p</i> = 0.088). Complication rate was not significantly different: 22.2% (<i>N</i> = 6/27; 95% CI 9.4–43) with Thopaz + vs. 9.1% (<i>N</i> = 2/22; 95% CI 1.6–31) with UWD. Satisfaction survey heavily favoured Thopaz+.</p> Conclusion <p>This study shows Thopaz + can be safely and feasibly implemented in paediatric surgical practice. Larger, multicentre studies are needed to define the cost-effectiveness and develop paediatric clinical protocol.</p>

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Digital chest drain in paediatric surgical patients

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月15日

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  • Heewon Yoon,
  • Merrill McHoney

摘要

Purpose

Chest drains used after thoracoscopic and open surgery traditionally rely on underwater drain (UWD). While Thopaz+ digital chest drain is NICE-recommended for adults, its usage in paediatric populations is underreported. This quality improvement project (QIP) evaluated the efficacy and safety of adopting Thopaz + in paediatric surgical patients.

Methods

Thopaz + was introduced in the Paediatric surgery department. Retrospective data were collected for patients undergoing thoracic operations between 10/2022 and 07/2025, including demographics, chest drain indication, drain duration, and complications.

Results

Of forty-nine patients (aged 1 day to 17 years; median age: 2.34 years, IQR 0.29–13.19), 55.10% (N = 27) used Thopaz + and 44.90% (N = 22) used UWD. Thopaz+ group was significantly older (median 12.2 years-old (2.3, 15.1), 95% CI: 6.7–12.0) and heavier (median 44 kg (16,55), 95% CI: 29–47) than UWD group (median 0.3years-old (0.0, 1.9), 95% CI: 0.73–5.6; median 12 kg (9,16), 95% CI: 11–26), reflecting absence of Thopaz+ adoption for neonates within the trust (p < 0.001 for age; p = 0.002 for weight). Thopaz+ trended towards a shorter chest drainage duration, with a median of 2 days (1.0, 6.0; 95% CI 2.1–5.9), vs. median of 3.5 days (2.0, 7.0; 95% CI 1.2–16) with UWD, although not statistically different (p = 0.088). Complication rate was not significantly different: 22.2% (N = 6/27; 95% CI 9.4–43) with Thopaz + vs. 9.1% (N = 2/22; 95% CI 1.6–31) with UWD. Satisfaction survey heavily favoured Thopaz+.

Conclusion

This study shows Thopaz + can be safely and feasibly implemented in paediatric surgical practice. Larger, multicentre studies are needed to define the cost-effectiveness and develop paediatric clinical protocol.