Safety And Recovery Of Tubeless Strategy In Uniportal VATS Wedge Resection

Summary

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and recovery outcomes of different tubeless strategies in adult patients undergoing uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) wedge resection who are confirmed to have no persistent air leak intraoperatively.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does double intraoperative aspiration tubeless strategy reduce the rate of postoperative pleural re-intervention within 30 days compared with single intraoperative aspiration tubeless strategy?

Do different intraoperative pleural space management strategies affect early postoperative recovery quality and pain?

If there is a comparison group:

Researchers will compare conventional chest tube drainage, single intraoperative aspiration tubeless, and double intraoperative aspiration tubeless strategies to determine their effects on postoperative pleural re-intervention and recovery outcomes.

Participants will:

Undergo uniportal VATS wedge resection

Receive a standardized intraoperative air leak test before chest closure

Be randomly assigned intraoperatively to one of three pleural space management strategies

Complete postoperative assessments including chest imaging, pain evaluation, and recovery quality questionnaires

Be followed for 30 days after surgery for safety outcomes

Conditions

• Pulmonary Nodule
• Pneumothorax
• Postoperative Complications

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Conventional Chest Tube Drainage

After uniportal VATS wedge resection, a chest tube is routinely placed at the end of surgery for postoperative pleural drainage. Chest tube management, including water seal or suction, criteria for tube removal, and discharge standards, follows standard institutional protocols.

PROCEDURE

Single Intraoperative Aspiration Tubeless

After uniportal VATS wedge resection and confirmation of no persistent air leak using a standardized intraoperative water-seal air leak test, a single negative-pressure aspiration of the pleural space is performed intraoperatively under positive-pressure ventilation before chest closure. The aspiration catheter is completely removed intraoperatively, and no postoperative chest tube or aspiration is allowed.

PROCEDURE

Double Intraoperative Aspiration Tubeless

After uniportal VATS wedge resection and confirmation of no persistent air leak using a standardized intraoperative water-seal air leak test, two consecutive negative-pressure aspirations of the pleural space are performed intraoperatively under positive-pressure ventilation before chest closure. After the second aspiration, the catheter is completely removed. No postoperative chest tube or aspiration is permitted.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-28

Primary Completion

2026-08-28

Completion

2026-10-01

Countries

• China

Study Locations