Digital chest drainage systems could help reduce COVID-19 spread, research show

Overview

• Post By : Kumar Jeetendra


• Source: Medela


• Date: 20 Dec,2020

Pioneering research, which reveals digital chest drains generate and disperse less aerosol generated particles in comparison to traditional water seal systems, has been published in the Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery journal.

The research was led by a group of thoracic consultants from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust — home to one of the largest lung cancer practices in the united kingdom.

At the beginning of the pandemic there was limited evidence about the spread of COVID-19 through chest drains that resulted in uncertainty within the thoracic area about the best medical device to use.

To understand this region further, the researchers examined three unique kinds of chest drainage systems — solitary chamber, 3 compartment wet-dry suction and digital drainage system.

Due to the lack of any specific guidance at the time, we went back to an old-fashioned system (an underwater seal chest drain connected to wall suction) and conducted our own research. What we found was that the digital device reduced aerosol generated particles, which is a good indicator of whether something may contribute to COVID-19 spread. There were also fewer complications compared with the old system.”

Dr Andrea Billè, Consultant thoracic surgeon, Guy’s and St Thomas’

The aim was to establish the best way to prevent transmission of COVID-19 to patients, in addition to protecting healthcare workers. While the transmission of COVID-19 is primarily through droplet spread, new research indicates that SARS-CoV-2 can survive in smaller aerosols that stay suspended in the air for several hours. These infective airborne particles may travel greater distances and be inhaled, increasing the chance of transmission.

The results of this study showed that the 3-compartment wet-dry suction system and the digital drainage system did not generate any recognizable aerosolised particles in any of the air flow or drain output volumes considered.

Speaking about the results, Dr Andrea Billè, consultant thoracic surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and the study author, said: “At the onset of the pandemic there was limited evidence about the spread of COVID-19 through chest drains. It’s the first pandemic we’ve encountered in a long time, so we had nothing to compare it to.”

We are delighted with the results of the research carried out at Guy’s and St Thomas’. There was a lot of confusion at the beginning of the pandemic within the thoracic community about what device to use so it is great that Dr Billè has conducted research into this area. We hope that this will give increased confidence and reassurance during the ongoing pandemic to all clinicians who use chest drains on a regular basis.”

Rob Rennel, Business Unit Manager, Medela

During the same period Medela also carried out tests at Nelson Labs, a global microbiology testing lab for medical device, pharmaceutical, tissue and biologics companies. This revealed that Thopaz+ can efficiently retain pathogen-sized particles and thus prevent them from then exiting to the environment through the exhaust. Drained air moves through a hydrophilic 3-D protection filter with the adaptation of filter performance to retention rate of 99.925% to 99.999 for 25 nm particles.

Thopaz+ is designed to improve patient mobility and is supported by clinical evidence from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which recommends the machine for its ability to decrease drainage time and length of stay in hospital, in addition to improve safety for patients and cut hospital costs.

Used globally, Medela’s mobile medical suction machines are intended to provide crucial suction and fluid removal during respiratory therapy provided with ventilators. Their pioneering Thopaz+ electronic system is clinically proven to improve results, ensuring a secure and constant drainage independent of a wall vacuum to provide safer patient care while minimizing the probability of cross-contamination.