@jessie1990 I asked the surgeon way before surgery what the usual time in the hospital looked like. He assured me I would most likely be in for 2-3 days. It all depends on how much fluid is draining out of the chest tube. I was released the very next day at about noon. His nurse practitioner came in and looked at the reservoir telling me the tube could come out. I tried to talk her into allowing me to stay longer. She was not having it. Also, I was told by the doctor someone on his team would be removing the chest tube. Nope. 4 nurses came in. One had been written off to be allowed to do the procedure, and the other three were there to witness how to do it. No supervisor. She did fine, but when I was going to med. school, there was always a head nurse who watched and gave advise. I mean, how can you get written off on knowing a procedure if there is no lead to witness your success, or lack thereof? Things have really changed since I went to school. Then for me to have to go back to have fluid removed from my lung a few weeks later? Wouldn't that seem like they took the tube out too soon? I hope your whole operation goes a lot smoother. Also, make sure they have a chest pillow for you to hold when you have to cough.