The United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a medical technology guidance recommending Thopaz+ (Medela AG Switzerland) for managing chest drains.

NICE concluded: "The case for adopting Thopaz+ for managing chest drains is supported by the evidence. Thopaz+ can reduce drainage time and length of stay in hospital, and improves safety for people with chest drains. Its use may also improve clinical decision-making through continuous, objective monitoring of air leaks and fluid loss." "We are delighted NICE and the Appraisal Committee has reached this decision. The positive conclusion is testament to the value, cost-effectiveness and innovation Thopaz+ brings to the chest drainage paradigm," says Paul Furlong, Managing Director for Medela in the UK.

Thopaz+ is a portable chest drain and digital monitoring system that applies negative pressure as needed and continuously monitors air leakage and fluid drainage. In its internationally recognized independent role to provide evidence-based guidance on health and social care, NICE states that Thopaz+ should especially be considered for people who need chest drainage after pulmonary resection or due to a pneumothorax.

The main benefits behind the use of Thopaz+, as confirmed by NICE's guidance, are a shorter drainage time and a shorter length of stay in hospitals following pulmonary resection. By case, a reduced length of stay in hospital of up to 1.5 days (average 0.4 days) and estimated cost savings of 111 per patient per hospital stay were calculated. "We anticipate that where Thopaz+ is used to manage chest drains there will be a reduced length of stay in hospital. This will allow providers to better utilise beds," concludes the external assessment centre (EAC).