Clinical Effect Analysis of Negative Pressure Chest Drainage in Patients after Two-Port Thoracoscopic Valve Surgery

Objective: This study aims to investigate the drainage effect and clinical outcomes of negative pressure chest drainage in patients after two-port thoracoscopic valve surgery, comparing the differences in postoperative pain, hospital stay, and other factors between the negative pressure group and the control group. Methods: This study is a prospective controlled trial that selected patients undergoing two-port thoracoscopic valve surgery at a certain hospital from January 2019 to December 2024. Patients were randomly assigned to the control group and the negative pressure group using a random number table method. The control group consisted of 30 patients (20 males, 10 females, mean age 42.03 ± 12.89 years), and the negative pressure group consisted of 35 patients (26 males, 9 females, mean age 41.84 ± 11.83 years). The control group received traditional chest drainage, while the negative pressure group received negative pressure chest drainage. Postoperative pain scores, hospital stay, drainage time, number of tube blockages, and incidences of pneumothorax or subcutaneous emphysema were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results: The negative pressure group had a significantly shorter postoperative drainage time compared to the control group (49.09 ± 11.99 hours vs. 79.10 ± 7.32 hours, P < 0.001). The postoperative pain score was lower in the negative pressure group (4.49 ± 1.27 vs. 7.03 ± 0.85, P < 0.001), and the hospital stay was significantly shorter (9.83 ± 1.69 days vs. 14.73 ± 2.32 days, P < 0.001). The incidence of pneumothorax or subcutaneous emphysema was significantly lower in the negative pressure group than in the control group (14.29% vs. 56.67%, P = 0.0003). Conclusion: The application of negative pressure chest drainage in patients after two-port thoracoscopic valve surgery can effectively reduce postoperative pain, shorten hospital stay, and lower the incidence of tube blockage and pneumothorax, demonstrating good clinical outcomes.