ObjectiveTo compare and evaluate the application of two types of chest drainage in patients who had undergone the lung lobe resection. MethodWe retrospective analyzed the clinical data of 240 patients who underwent left lobe resection. The patients were divided into a single conventional drainage group with single chest drainage tube (normal group) and a single conventional drainage tube combined with drainage of disposable surgical negative pressure drainage ball (NPBD) (combination group). There were 140 patients including 86 males and 54 females at mean age of 48.76± 4.92 years in the normal group. There were 100 patients including 58 males and 42 females at mean age of 48.37± 4.56 years in the combination group. We compared the outcomes between the two groups. ResultThe postoperative pathological results revealed there were 12 patients with tuberculosis (TB), 87 patients with squamous carcinoma, and 41 patients with adenocarcinoma in the normal group; 5 patients with TB, 66 patients with squamous carcinoma, and 29 patients with adenocarcinoma in the combination group. There were statistical differences in postoperative hospital stay (11.35± 2.78 d vs. 9.33± 2.46 d), chest drainage tube indwelling time (6.75± 2.10 d vs. 8.28± 2.10 d), total volume of chest drainage (1 176.07± 384.62 ml vs. 926.50± 22.35 ml) with P values less than 0.001 between the normal group and the combination group. No statistical difference was found between the two groups in complications (P>0.05). ConclusionSingle conventional drainage tube combined with drainage of disposable surgical negative pressure drainage ball (NPBD) has more advantages than single conventional chest drainage tube drainage, and is worth to be applied popularly in clinic.