Unadjusted major morbidity and mortality outcomes between patients who received single or multiple chest tubes during the study period
| Outcome | Group, no. (%) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCT, n = 3045 | MCT, n = 2653 | ||
| Return to OR for bleeding or tamponade | 142 (4.7) | 134 (5.0) | 0.50 |
| In-hospital mortality | 116 (3.8) | 121 (4.6) | 0.16 |
| ICU stay > 48 hours | 775 (25.5) | 739 (27.9) | 0.041 |
| Postoperative stay > 9 d | 959 (31.5) | 878 (33.1) | 0.20 |
| IMA use | 1788 (49.2) | 1844 (50.7) | < 0.001 |
ICU = intensive care unit; IMA = internal mammary artery; MCT = multiple chest tubes; OR = operating room; SCT = single chest tube.