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OBJECTIVE: Prolonged air leak from the parenchyma is a frequent complication of lung surgery leading to a prolonged hospital stay. We wish to share our experience with the use of Urobag with a non-return valve connected to a chest drain, which works on the same principle as a Heimlich valve, as an alternative to underwater chest drainage system in facilitating early discharge in patients undergoing VATS.
METHODS: Between August 2013 to Oct 2014, 68 patients with persistent air leak after VATS done for varying etiologies, were managed with application of a Urobag to the intercostal chest drain and discharged home early.
RESULTS: The period of chest drainage varied from 3-11 days post operatively. There were no major complications except for clot obstruction of valve of the Urobag in 2 patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Urobag with its inbuilt one-way valve offers many advantages over the underwater seal system. It helps maintain a more negative intrapleural pressure and by being physiologically more effective than the underwater drain which may occasionally increase the intrapleural pressure and diminish drainage. It is light weight and easy to manage, thereby allowing early ambulation and discharge, apart from being cost effective