From the Guidelines
The chest is expected to be elevated for a short period after thoracic surgery, with most patients having their chest drain removed as soon as possible, typically when air leaks are no longer observed and serous pleural drainage is <300 mL/day, as recommended by the guidelines on enhanced recovery after pulmonary lobectomy 1.
Postoperative Care
The guidelines suggest that postoperative admission to a critical care unit should not be systematic, and intermediate care unit admission should be based on comorbidities and intraoperative events 1. The use of a digital chest drainage system for suction drainage is recommended, and the chest drain should be removed as soon as possible, typically when the criteria mentioned above are met 1.
Recovery Timeline
The recovery timeline can vary depending on the specific procedure performed and the individual patient's healing process. However, the guidelines recommend the use of a postoperative ERAS protocol, including at least early mobilization, to enhance recovery after surgery 1. Multimodal physiotherapy rather than isolated chest physiotherapy is also recommended to aid in the recovery process 1.
Complications
If the chest remains elevated beyond the expected period or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms like difficulty breathing, chest pain, or signs of infection, follow-up with a healthcare professional is necessary. The guidelines do not support the routine use of prophylactic non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or high-flow oxygen (HFO) therapy in all patients undergoing pulmonary resection, but rather recommend their use in patients with postoperative desaturation or acute respiratory distress syndrome 1.
Key Recommendations
- Remove the chest drain as soon as possible, typically when air leaks are no longer observed and serous pleural drainage is <300 mL/day 1.
- Use a digital chest drainage system for suction drainage 1.
- Implement a postoperative ERAS protocol, including at least early mobilization, to enhance recovery after surgery 1.
- Provide multimodal physiotherapy rather than isolated chest physiotherapy to aid in the recovery process 1.
From the Research
Thoracic Surgery Recovery
There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided studies do not discuss the expected elevation of the chest (thorax) after thoracic surgery. The studies focus on:
- Guideline updates for acute low back pain 2
- The effectiveness of nonopioid alternatives for acute pain management 3
- Treatment of tension-type headache with paracetamol and NSAIDs 4
- The effectiveness of ibuprofen plus paracetamol combination on persistence of acute musculoskeletal disorders 5
- Safer and more efficient vital signs monitoring protocols to identify deteriorating patients in general hospital wards 6
None of these studies provide information on the expected duration of chest elevation after thoracic surgery.