International Journal of Clinical Research

Objective Analysis of the feasibility and advantages of using a gastric tube as an alternative to traditional chest tubes in postoperative pleural drainage for lung cancer patients. Methods Select 60 patients who underwent lung cancer surgery in the thoracic surgery department of Pingyang County People’s Hospital from September 2024 to September 2025 as the research subjects. Patients were randomly divided into an observation group (n=30, gastric tube drainage) and a control group (n=30, traditional chest tube drainage). Compare the postoperative pain, drainage, length of hospital stay, comfort level, and incidence of complications between two groups. Results On the first, second, and third postoperative days, the VAS scores, postoperative drainage volume, drainage duration, hospitalization duration, and complication rates in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Additionally, the comfort level in the observation group was significantly higher, with all differences being statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of a 16F gastric tube as an alternative to traditional chest tubes in postoperative pleural drainage for lung cancer patients can effectively alleviate postoperative pain, improve comfort, reduce complication risks, and promote postoperative recovery.

Lung cancer; Thoracoscopic lobectomy; Thoracic drainage; Gastrostomy tube; Traditional chest tube