ObjectiveThe pleural injury caused by harvesting internal mammary artery (LIMA) can significantly increase the possibility of early pleural effusion after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). We compared the differences in pleural effusion, pain severity, and early lung function in different treatments to find the optimal strategy.MethodsA total of 300 patients receiving OPCABG using LIMA with left pleural lesion were selected (176 males and 124 females, mean age of 63.1±8.7 years). After bypass surgery, patients with pleural rupture were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n=100) received a pericardial drainage tube and a left chest tube inserted from the midline (subxyphoid); group B (n=100) had a pericardial drainage tube and a tube placed in the sixth intercostal space at the midaxillary line; group C (n=100) with the broken pleura sutured, had a pericardial drainage tube and a mediastinal drainage tube inserted. All patients underwent pulmonary function testing and arterial blood gas analysis on postoperative days (PODs) 5. The three methods were analyzed and evaluated.ResultsTotal drainage: group B (852±285 ml)>group C (811±272 ml)>group A (703±226 ml); there was no significant difference between the group B and group C, but they were statistically different from the group A (P<0 05="" patients="" with="" pleural="" effusion="" after="" removal="" of="" drainage="" tubes:="" group="" a="" 13="" patients="">group B (7 patients)>group C (3 patients), and there was significant difference among the three groups (P<0 05="" pain="" sensation="" the="" day="" after="" extubation:="" group="" b="" 2="" 4="" 0="" 8="" 3="" 8="" 0="" 9="">group A (1.9±0.7, 3.3±0.8)>group C (1.1±0.6, 2.5±0.8), there was significant difference among the three groups (P<0 05="" pain="" sensationon="" on="" postoperative="" days="" 5:="" group="" b="" 0="" 3="" 0="" 2="" 0="" 6="" 0="" 5="">group A (0.3±0.3, 0.5±0.4)>group C (0.2±0.2, 0.5±0.3), and there was no significant difference among the three groups. Vital capacity on postoperative days 5: there was no significant difference between the group B and group C, and both groups were greater than group A (P<0.05). There was no difference in FEV1 and PCO2 among the three groups. Group C was better than group A in PO2 on postoperative day 5 (P<0.05).ConclusionSuturing the broken pleura during the operation can not only reduce the degree of postoperative pain but also have less pleural effusion and better pulmonary function. It can be used as the preferred method.