Digital Thoracic Drainage System Market Size, Share, and Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Single Chamber and Multiple Chamber), By Application (Pleural Effusion, Spontaneous Pneumothorax, Hemothorax, and Others), By End User (Hospitals & ASCs, Specialty Clinics, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The digital thoracic drainage system is a medical device used to monitor intrathoracic pressure changes after thoracic surgery or for patients with conditions, such as pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or hemothorax. The digital thoracic drainage systems provide a method for removing the air & fluid substances from the pleural space. Also, the system facilitates early patient mobilization and improves postoperative physiotherapy without being attached to a wall vacuum mechanism. These electronic systems contribute to the earlier chest drain removal and shorten the hospital stays. Thus, these factors increase the demand for digital thoracic drainage systems and propel the market's growth.

Furthermore, traditional thoracic drainage devices have several limitations over digital thoracic drainage devices. The traditional devices subjectively measure the air leaks by observing bubbling in the water chamber. Also, the smaller air leaks are challenging to determine. Thus, timely detection of air leaks and measurement of their volume is not easy, leading to inaccurate judgment for air leak measurements. Such limitations associated with conventional devices have led to the increasing adoption of digital thoracic drainage systems in healthcare settings and have expanded the market's growth.

Moreover, the increasing prevalence of cardiopulmonary disorders and lung cancer leads to an increasing number of thoracic surgery procedures. Such scenarios are expected to raise the demand for advanced drainage devices and thus increase the adoption of digital thoracic drainage systems. Such cases contribute to the growth of the digital thoracic drainage system market.

• For instance, according to the report published by the Shanghai Chest Hospital, in 2021, the number of thoracic surgeries reported at the Department of Thoracic Surgery and the Department of Oncological Surgery of Shanghai Chest Hospital exceeded 20,000 cases yearly. Such an increasing number of thoracic surgeries requires adequate systems for chest drainage and measurement of air leaks. These factors are elevating the adoption of digital devices and propelling the market growth.

Additionally, the increasing research and development activities, a rising number of clinical studies, and advanced product offerings by the key players of the market boost the expansion of the market during the forecast period.

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted the market. The negative impact on the market was due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and the shift of the healthcare systems toward attending to COVID-19 patients. Also, a decline in patient visits was observed during the pandemic, leading to a decrease in surgical interventions for cardiopulmonary diseases. However, the market stabilized in 2021 with the resumption of patient visits to the hospitals for surgeries. Moreover, the market is expected to normalize during the forecast period due to the increase in the number of research and development activities. This is anticipated to lead to the key players launching advanced digital thoracic drainage devices. Such factors are expected to boost the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Segmentation

Key Insights

The report covers the following key insights:

• Prevalence of Key Lung Disorders, By Key Countries/Regions, 2023


• Overview: Regulatory Scenario By Key Countries/Regions


• New Product Launches, By Key Players


• Key Industry Developments - Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships


• Impact of COVID-19 on the Market

Analysis by Application

Based on application, the digital thoracic drainage system market is segmented into pleural effusion, spontaneous pneumothorax, hemothorax, and others.

The pleural effusion segment accounted for a significant share of the global digital thoracic drainage system market in 2023. Pleural effusion is a medical condition in which excess fluid accumulates in the pleural space. The common causes associated with pleural effusion are heart failure, lung cancer, breast cancer, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and others. Thus, thoracic drainage devices are required to remove the excess fluid from the pleural space.

The rising prevalence of pleural effusion cases and the increasing demand for advanced, accurate, convenient, and efficient devices boost the adoption of digital thoracic drainage devices and thus propels the growth of the segment in the market.

• For instance, in September 2022, according to the data published by the National Institute of Health, around 40,000 to 60,000 people in Germany developed malignant pleural effusion (MPE) every year. Such an increasing number of cases related to pleural effusion increases the demand for advanced digital thoracic drainage devices, thus propelling the market's growth.

Furthermore, digital thoracic drainage devices are becoming the preferred choice of clinicians and healthcare facilities worldwide due to their advantages, such as portable, real-time monitoring, accurate assessments of air leaks, increased patient comfort with ease of mobility, and decreased hospital stays. This increases the adoption of digital devices for conditions such as pleural effusion, thus boosting the growth of the segment in the market.

Regional Analysis

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North America held a significant portion of the global digital thoracic drainage system market share in 2023. The dominance of the region in the market is augmented by the increasing number of patients with cardio-pulmonary disorders such as lung cancers, leading to a rise in cases of pleural effusion, spontaneous pneumothorax, and other conditions. 

Additionally, an increasing number of thoracic surgeries in the region includes surgeries for gastroesophageal reflux disease, tumors (lung, esophagus, chest wall, and mediastinum), emphysema, tracheal anomalies, diaphragm disease, end-stage heart or lung disease that requires transplantation, and benign chest wall abnormalities. This leads to increasing demand for advanced devices for the continuous monitoring of air leak flow and drainage of the pleural cavity, as prolonged air leaks increase the length of stays in hospitals.

• For instance, in January 2022, according to the data published by the National Institute of Health, around 530,000 general thoracic surgery cases were performed yearly in the U.S.

Moreover, the region has technologically advanced infrastructure and a skilled workforce, as well as key players in the market with advanced product offerings. Also, the region has stringent regulatory and reimbursement policies for medical devices that facilitate the easy adoption of advanced devices for patient's comfort and well-being. Such scenarios boost the growth of the region's market.

On the other hand, the European region held a substantial share of the global digital thoracic drainage system market in 2023. The region’s growth in the market is attributed to a rise in the number of chronic pulmonary and heart diseases due to lifestyle modifications and an increased smoking rate among adults in the region. Also, the rise in the number of thoracic surgeries and the presence of advanced healthcare facilities for the postoperative care of the patients is thus leading toward the adoption of digital thoracic drainage devices that help improve patient comfort, decreasing the cost of treatment and reducing hospital stays.

Key Players Covered

The report includes the profiles of key players, such as Medela, ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Redax’s, Centese, Inc., and Rocket Medical plc.

Key Industry Developments

• In November 2023, Centese, Inc. secured Series B funding of USD 15.0 million from Medical Technology Venture Partners. The funding accelerated the advanced product development of the Thoraguard intelligent chest tube management system and transformed the recovery process for heart and lung surgery patients.


• In October 2021, Centese, Inc. developed a device named Thoraguard. A self-cleaning chest tube system provides more precise measurements for monitoring patients recovering from heart or lung surgery.


• In December 2020, Medela announced that the Thopaz+ Digital Chest Drainage and Monitoring System effectively prevents the transmission of aerosolized viral particles, including SARS-CoV-2. This filtration system reduces the risk of cross-contamination and helps protect patients and healthcare staff.


• In November 2020, Medela’s Thopaz+ chest drainage system was installed at Blackpool Victoria Hospital to minimize the risk of COVID-19 cross-contamination.