Assessing the Effect of Intercostal Drain Clamping Prior to Removal versus No Clamping on Subsequent Ipsilateral Invasive Pleural Drainage in Pneumothorax Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

While intercostal chest drain insertion remains a cornerstone in pneumothorax management, the optimal approach for subsequent management post-drain removal remains a subject of debate. Specifically, the decision between clamping the chest drain before removal versus non-clamping lacks consensus and is often guided by individual clinician preference rather than empirical evidence.

This thesis addresses this gap by comparing ipsilateral invasive pleural drainage procedures following Intercostal Chest Drain (ICD) removal in pneumothorax patients. The study will adopt a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to compare the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of clamped and non-clamped approaches. By rigorously evaluating these two management strategies, this research seeks to provide valuable insights into the optimal post-drain removal management protocol for pneumothorax patients.

Research Hypothesis: Clamping the intercostal drain before removal is non-inferior to not clamping the drain in terms of the need for subsequent ipsilateral invasive pleural drainage in pneumothorax patients.