For most patients with relatively mild conditions, closed chest drainage is the simplest and most effective treatment and is often the preferred treatment option in clinical practice.
After a closed chest drain is placed, the doctor will closely monitor the patient’s symptoms and changes in drainage flow and consider removing the drain if the patient’s X-ray indicates good lung reopening, a significant reduction in effusion, no air bubbles escaping from the chest drain, and a gradual change in the colour of the drainage fluid to thin and clear and less than 200ml within 24 hours.