Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the effects of implementing subcutaneous emphysema nursing management scheme for patients with subcutaneous emphysema after thoracoscopic lung surgery. Methods: The total of 39 patients with at least grade 2 subcutaneous emphysema after thoracoscopic lung surgery in a tertiary grade A cancer hospital in Beijing were included by convenient sampling method from January 2017 to August 2022. Totally 13 patients were divided into control group and accepted routine nursing care, while 26 patients were divided into experiment group and accepted subcutaneous emphysema nursing management scheme. The absorption time of subcutaneous emphysema, the period with chest tube and the satisfaction score of patients were compared between the two groups. Results: The differences of subcutaneous emphysema absorption time and satisfaction score between the experiment group and the control group were statistically significant respectively (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the period of wearing chest tube between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The application of subcutaneous emphysema nursing management scheme to patients with grade 2 or above subcutaneous emphysema can shorten the absorption time of subcutaneous emphysema and improve patients' satisfaction. The nursing management scheme can be recommended for patients with subcutaneous emphysema after thoracoscopic lung surgery.

Key words: thoracoscope; lung surgery; subcutaneous emphysema; nursing