ISMICS 2025 Annual Meeting

Safety and Feasibility of Early Chest Tube Removal After Robotic Mitral Valve Repair

•Robotic-assisted mitral valve repair (MVr) is increasingly being performed and is associated with shorter hospital length of stay, faster recovery, decreased pain, and excellent long-term outcomes.

•Although few studies have assessed chest tube removal timing after cardiac surgery, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols recommend removal as early as possible.

•The optimal perioperative management of chest tubes, including the timing of removal following robotic-assisted MVr, is unknown.

•The aim of this study was to determine the safety and clinical outcomes of early chest tube removal after robotic-assisted MVr.  

•A prospective protocol for early chest tube removal following robotic-assisted MVr was implemented at our institution in Dec 2022:

•If indications were met (e.g., absence of air leak and <250 mL serous drainage in last 12 hours), chest tubes were removed on postoperative day 1.

•Our institution standard also places patients on apixaban after chest tube removal.

•All patients undergoing robotic-assisted MVr from January 2022 to December 2023 were identified.

•Postoperative outcomes were compared between the early chest tube removal cohort and the standard chest tube removal cohort.

•Early chest tube removal after robotic-assisted MVr was associated with decreased pain and shorter length of hospitalization, which may improve patient satisfaction and reduce resource utilization.

•It was not associated with increased complications or 30-day readmission rates, suggesting it is safe in select patients following robotic-assisted MVr.

ISMICS 2025 Annual Meeting

Safety And Feasibility Of Early Chest Tube Removal After Robotic Mitral Valve Repair

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