ObjectiveTo compare clinical results between single and double chest tube applications after lung cancer resection, and explore the role of single chest tube in postoperative fast track recovery. MethodNinety-three patients with lung cancer who underwent lobectomy between March and December of 2009 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were included in this study. All the patients were divided into a single-tube group including 46 patients (39 males and 7 females) with their age of 58.4±9.5 years, and a double-tube group including 47 patients (32 males and 15 females) with their age of 58.2±9.0 years. Drainage amount, duration, postoperative hospital stay, and incidences of pneumothorax and pleural effusion after removal of chest tubes were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsThe percentage of patients undergoing complete video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) of the double-tube group was significantly higher than that of the single-tube group, and the percentage of patients undergoing thoracotomy of the double-tube group was significantly lower than that of the single-tube group (P < 0.05). Drainage amount of the double-tube group was significantly larger than that of the single-tube group (824.4±612.5 ml vs. 510.7±406.7 ml, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in drainage duration, postoperative hospital stay, the incidences of subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, pleural effusion or re-insertion of chest drain between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionClinical results of single chest tube is better than or equivalent to those of double chest tubes after lung cancer resection, and drainage duration of single chest tube application might be shorter.