Thopaz+ digital chest drainage and monitoring system* for use after thoracic surgery and interventions
Find out how Thopaz+ accelerates chest drain removal, shortens ICU length of stay, and reduces overall costs.
Dominant Flex and Basic surgical suction pumps
Designed for use in hospitals, clinics and doctor's practices, the Dominant Flex and Basic pumps are the optimal medical suction pumps for all suctioning needs.
Uninterrupted performance2,3,4. Transformative efficiency2,5,6,7. More effective blood drainage starting right where it counts – in the OR.
Improving outcomes to save time and costs2,3,8,9,10. Drives measurable economic value through faster recovery, early interventions and less complications.
Empowering evidence-based decisions3,11-16. Objective real-time data with trending charts on display elevate clinical confidence and accuracy
Redesigning safety in chest drain management11,17. Smart and real-time notifications keep clinicians informed and patients safe.
Mobilize early3,4. Recover faster3,9. Designed for early mobilization - compact, lightweight and battery-powered
Wherever. Whenever. Hospital-wide. Always ready. Fully adaptable with 3 canister sizes and regulated pressure settings for your clinical chest drainage needs within the hospital
Objective measurement & trends with proven clinical experience
Accurate digital drainage measurement and trends during critical post-op window1
Reliable trending of air leaks improves decision-making2
Proven clinical experience
>2M total cases, including 100k+ cardiac cases
More than 40 studies, including 8 studies in cardiac, among them 2 randomised controlled trials
Enhanced recovery with early patient mobilisation
Alignment with ERAS® guidelines3 in thoracic for digital drainage devices and supports cardiac recommendations4
Light, compact design simplifies early patient mobility
Smart notifications and acoustic signals mitigate the risk of error2,5
Reduces patient pain with faster drain removal6,7 and improves patient satisfaction7
Optimised chest drainage management for safe, early drain removal
User-friendly interface streamlines nursing care and cardiac patient management1,5,8
25% faster chest tube removal and reduction of drainage-related complications6
Uninterrupted, continuous drainage with long-life battery system5,8
Videos
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Thopaz+ for Cardiac Surgery Patients Find out how to support your cardiac ERAS or fast-track programs.
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Safer care for enhanced recovery solution with Thopaz+
Find out how to provide safer care already in the golden 1st hour after cardiac surgery.
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Medela Thopaz+ training for the Operating Room
Medela Thopaz+ user-specific training video for the operating room.
This video is for demonstration use only and in no way replaces the IFU.
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Medela Thopaz+ Training for physicians
This short and simple video shows a training for physicians using Thopaz+. This video is for demonstration use only and in no way replaces the IFU.
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Thopaz+ Express In-Service Video
This video will provide you with the info required to set up and operate the most commonly used features on the Thopaz+ Digital Chest Drainage System. This video is for demonstration use only and in no way replaces the IFU.
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Medela Thopaz+ training for post-anesthesia care unit
Medela Thopaz+ user-specific training video for post-anesthesia care unit, intensive care unit, and ward.
This video is for demonstration use only and in no way replaces the IFU.
Accessories & Disposables
Disposable canisters
Available in 300ml, 800ml and 2-litre capacities to optimise drainage procedure and reduce the amount of biohazardous waste.
All three sizes are available with or without solidifier, providing a hygienic and cost-effective option for disposing of patient fluid disposal.
Tubing The dual-lumen tubing provides continuous pressure monitoring close to the patient’s chest to provide early warning of potential harmful situations.
Two types of connectors are available (single or double) in small, medium or large sizes to match the chest tube being used.
All Thopaz+ tubing connectors contain a port for convenient sampling of drainage fluid.
Flexible tubing extensions
The extensions allow the current practice to be maintained. Therefore, if needed, tubing manipulation (e.g. milking) can be performed.
Easy handling: connect three catheters to one device.
Extra length allows for more flexible pump placement.
Docking station The docking station for Thopaz+ generally requires one-time set up, allowing the device to be recharged without the need to handle cables and an external power adapter. Can be equipped with adapter for the 2 l canister.
Holder with standard rail For the easy attachment of Thopaz+ to rails, beds or IV poles. Can be fixed vertically or horizontally.
Universal holder with flexible standard Rail For the easy attachment of Thopaz+ to rails, beds or IV poles. Infinitely variable adjustment of rail inclination (360°).
Carrying strap The carrying strap for Thopaz+ offers the patient convenience, comfort and full mobility
Watch the videos below to find out more about the product and how best to use it
Please accept the marketing-cookies to watch videos.
Thopaz+ for Cardiac Surgery Patients
Find out how to support your cardiac ERAS or fast-track programs.
Please accept the marketing-cookies to watch videos.
Safer care for enhanced recovery solution with Thopaz+
Find out how to provide safer care already in the golden 1st hour after cardiac surgery.
Please accept the marketing-cookies to watch videos.
Medela Thopaz+ training for the Operating Room
Medela Thopaz+ user-specific training video for the operating room.
This video is for demonstration use only and in no way replaces the IFU.
Please accept the marketing-cookies to watch videos.
Medela Thopaz+ technical training
Short and simple setup and training videos that will ensure you become a confident and knowledgeable Thopaz+ user.
This video is for demonstration use only and in no way replaces the IFU.
Please accept the marketing-cookies to watch videos.
Medela Thopaz+ training for post-anesthesia care unit
Medela Thopaz+ user-specific training video for post-anesthesia care unit, intensive care unit, and ward.
This video is for demonstration use only and in no way replaces the IFU.
Complications are expensive! Thopaz+ helps reduce them
Recent findings support the use of digital drainage for safer, more efficient postoperative care. This retrospective study compared outcomes of conventional drainage, active tube clearance (ATC), and portable digital drainage systems in 1,049 patients after myocardial revascularization. Both ATC and digital drainage significantly reduced interventions for retained blood syndrome (RBS) and early re-exploration for bleeding. The portable digital system also led to a 37% reduction in postoperative atrial fibrillation compared to conventional systems.
A sudden increase in bleeding goes unnoticed? Let Thopaz+ notify you!
Two clinical publications emphasize the importance of notifications of Thopaz+:
“…the alarms implemented on the Thopaz+ system (tube occlusion, massive air leakage, massive fluid leakage, canister full, clogged filter, low battery) can be life‐saving for the patient, especially when considering a disconnection of the tubing with a massive air leak or a drainage tube occlusion with the possibility of clot formation leading to a tamponade. Barozzi et al. 2020
“In case of tube obstruction, as well as system disconnection and other kinds of malfunction, audible alarms are activated by Thopaz+. These alarms are especially useful in the setting of cardiac surgery when drainage malfunction may be associated with an immediate risk for the patient, i.e. pericardial tamponade”. Saha et al. 2020.
Compact, lightweight, portable unit with convenient carrying handle
Provides uninterrupted drainage in care settings, including those without access to central vacuum.
Double lumen tubing
Ensures that suction is only applied when needed and ensures regulated pressure at the patient’s chest.
Digital display
Provides objective information for re-exploration and/or chest tube removal by digitally tracking fluid output and air leak trends over time. Enables reliable monitoring of patient status and supports early decision-making by the care team using objective real-time data.
System status notifications
Smart notifications and alarms mitigate the risk of error
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Long-life battery allows patient transport and early light mobilisation while maintaining effective drainage.
Disposable canisters
Detachable canister with 300 ml, 800 ml or 2 l volume ensures safe and simple collection of fluids. To prevent cross-contamination, the canister has an integrated hydrophilic overflow and bacteria filter from POREX®. Optional solidifier models eliminate the risk of spilling to protect staff safety.
Hygienic and easy-to-clean system
Customer Reviews
"The drainage should be operational as soon as we have sealed the thorax. In many systems, this is not guaranteed, as we need the wall vacuum for it. It can take up to an hour after surgery for the patient to be transferred, arrive at the intensive care unit and for monitoring to be performed. That is a critical stage. Thopaz+, however, guarantees a constant drainage."
Prof. Dr. med. Fischlein Head of cardiac surgery department. Klinikum Nürnberg - Paracelsus Medical University
"A digital approach to chest drainage is undoubtedly key to achieving early mobilization and better clinical outcomes. It enhances patient safety, enabling real-time monitoring, and optimized fluid management. Consequently, it can reduce complications and improves clinical endpoints."
Tulio Caldonazo University Hospital Jena, Germany
"The drainage should be operational as soon as we have sealed the thorax. In many systems, this is not guaranteed, as we need the wall vacuum for it. It can take up to an hour after surgery for the patient to be transferred, arrive at the intensive care unit and for monitoring to be performed. That is a critical stage. Thopaz+, however, guarantees a constant drainage."
Prof. Dr. med. Fischlein Head of cardiac surgery department. Klinikum Nürnberg - Paracelsus Medical University
"A digital approach to chest drainage is undoubtedly key to achieving early mobilization and better clinical outcomes. It enhances patient safety, enabling real-time monitoring, and optimized fluid management. Consequently, it can reduce complications and improves clinical endpoints."
Tulio Caldonazo University Hospital Jena, Germany
Related Articles
Articles that may be of interest
Application of Thopaz+ in cardiac surgery
Time to read: 3 min.
Chest drainage insights
Digital drains reduce complications and promote early chest tube removal
Proven clinical benefits versus traditional chest drainage systems:
1. Gaudino M, Sanna T, Ballman KV, et al. Posterior left pericardiotomy for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: an adaptive, single-centre, single-blind, randomised, controlled trial. Lancet 2021;398(10316):2075-83. 2. Kalisnik JM, Zujs V, Zibert J, e al. The impact of a chest drainage system on retained blood-associated complications after cardiac surgery. EJCTS 2025;67(Supplement_1):i9-17. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 3. Barozzi L, Biagio LS, Meneguzzi M, et al. Novel, digital, chest drainage system in cardiac surgery. J Card Surg. 2020;35:1492–1497. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 4. Saha S, Hofmann S, Jebran AF, et al. Safety and efficacy of digital chest drainage units compared to conventional chest drainage units in cardiac surgery. Interact CardioVasc Thorac Surg 2020; doi:10.1093/icvts/ivaa049. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 5. Bauerle WB, Hamlin S, Dubois S, et al. Impact of liposomal bupivacaine on enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for lung resection. Ann Thorac Surg 2025;119(1):219-26. 6. George RS, Papagiannopoulos K. Advances in chest drain management in thoracic disease. J Thorac Dis 2016;8:S55-64. 7. Pérez-Egido L, García-Casillas MA, Simal I, et al. Digital thoracic drainage: a new system to monitor air leaks in pediatric population. J Pediatr Surg 2019;54(4):693-695. 8. Van Linden A, Hecker F, Courvoisier DS, et al. Reduction of drainage-associated complications in cardiac surgery with a digital drainage system: a randomized controlled trial. J Thorac Dis 2019;11(12):5177-5186. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 9. Tamura K., Sakurai S. Clinical efficacy of digital chest drainage system in cardiac valve surgery. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2022;70:619–623. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 10. YHEC Value calculator; YHEC Medela Thopaz+ Chest Drain Model - FINAL - 31.07.25.xlsm. Data on file Medela. 11. Evans JM, Ray A, Dale M, et al. Thopaz+ portable digital system for managing chest drains: A NICE Medical Technology Guidance. Appl Health Econ Health Policy 2019;17(3):285–94. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 12. Jacobsen K, Talbert S, Boyer JH. The benefits of digital drainage system versus traditional drainage system after robotic-assisted pulmonary lobectomy. J Thorac Dis 2019;11(12):5328–5335. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 13. Pfeuty K, Lenot B. Early postoperative day 0 chest tube removal using a digital drainage device protocol after thoracoscopic major pulmonary resection. Interact CardioVasc Thorac Surg 2020; doi:10.1093/icvts/ivaa170. 14. Khader AA, Pons A, Palmares A, et al. Are chest drains routinely required after thoracic surgery? A drainology study of on-table chest-drain removals. JTCVS open 2023;16:960-4. 15. Yang TY, Wu CY, Hsieh MJ, et al. Association of Wearable Activity Monitors and Digital Drainage Device With Daily Ambulation and Length of Stay Among Pulmonary Resection Patients: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study. Thoracic Cancer 2025;16(14):e70132. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 16. Pompili C, Detterbeck F, Papagiannopoulos K, et al. Multicenter international randomized comparison of objective and subjective outcomes between electronic and traditional chest drainage systems. Ann Thorac Surg 2014;98:490–6. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems) 17. Rathinam S, Bradley A, Cantlin T, et al. Thopaz portable suction systems in thoracic surgery: an end user assessment and feedback in a tertiary unit. J Cardiothorac Surg 2011;6:59. (Thopaz vs traditional chest drainage systems)
Get the app!
THOPAZ+ SIMULATOR available for iOS and Android
Medela's Thopaz+ takes chest drainage therapy to a new level of care. This simulator helps you to become familiar with Thopaz+ and its advanced functions.
