Objective  To observe the application effect of three drainage methods in thoracic drainage after single-port thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer at phase Ⅰ.

Methods  A total of 105 patients with single-port thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer at phase Ⅰ were selected and divided into study group (treated with thoracic drainage tube and pigtail catheter), control group 1 (treated with thoracic drainage tube and deep vein catheter) and control group 2 (treated with thoracic drainage tube) according to the drainage method, with 35 cases in each group. Postoperative drainage situation, recovery indicators, score of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain after operation, pressing times of patient-controlled analgesic pump, adverse events and complications 3 months after surgery were compared among the three groups.

Results  The total postoperative drainage volume in the study group was significantly more than that in the control group 1 and control group 2, and the volume in the control group 1 was also significantly more than that in the control group 2 (P < 0.05). At discharge and 3 months after surgery, the volume of residual pleural effusion in the study group was significantly lower than those in the control group 1 and the control group 2, and the volume in the control group 1 was also significantly lower than that in the control group 2 (P < 0.05). The indwelling time of drainage tube and hospital stay in the study group were significantly shorter than those in the control group 1 and the control group 2 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in thread removal time of incision, level 1 healing rate of incision, VAS scores at 24 and 48 hours after operation, pressing times of patient-controlled analgesic pump, incidence rates of extubation, pneumothorax, hemothorax and atelectasis during hospitalization, and incidence of pneumothorax at 3 months after surgery among the three groups (P>0.05). The incidence of tube blockage in the study group was 2.86%, which was significantly lower than 22.86% in the control group 1 (P < 0.05).

Conclusion  Compared with thoracic drainage tube alone and thoracic drainage tube combined with deep vein catheter, thoracic drainage tube combined with pigtail catheter can effectively increase postoperative thoracic drainage volume in patients with single-port thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer at phase Ⅰ, improve drainage efficiency, shorten indwelling time of drainage tube, and reduce the risk of tube blockage.