Welcome to the Medela University

There are many challenges associated with patients requiring chest drainage. This 3 lesson course gives an introduction to the use of a digital chest drainage and monitoring system. It explains the risks associated with traditional drains, the key factors in implementing change in practice and ways to justify changing to a digital chest drainage system.   Presenter Ian Naldrett Associate Director of Nursing at North Middlesex University Hospital - Responsible for Surgery Anesthetics and Critical Care  (UK) Read more

Welcome to the Chest Drain Management module, which examines what is a chest drain, where and why this is used along with different chest drainage systems. This course provides an excellent introduction to understanding and managing chest drainage.   This course is available in English, German, French, Italian, Dutch and Spanish (click on the link for the language to access).    Please click on all + signs that you see in the course. Please click on all visual cards that ask you to "flip" them. You will not be able to advance to the next section unless you do and answer any questions in that section. There will be a some questions at the end of some sections of the training to check for comprehension. Good luck and enjoy the course.   Your Medela University Team   Please follow the below instructions to get to and complete the training course: Click the "Add" button to transfer your preferred course to your shopping cart. Click the "Proceed to Cart" button to check out. If you are a returning user, log-in with your personal log-in credentials. If you are a new user, please click on "Create an Account". By signing up you agree to our Data Protection Information. Back in your shopping cart, click on "Next Step Check Out". Return to dashboard to start your course.   This course is CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certified. This course is also endorsed by EfCCNa (European federation of Critical Care Nursing associations. Read more

ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) programs have become one of the cornerstones in the perioperative management of our patients. Although their benefit in terms of reducing complications and hospital stays is beyond doubt, they have not been routinely implemented in many Thoracic Surgery Departments yet. This course highlights its importance, with special focus on the management of chest drains and scientific evidence behind our recommendations. Two outstanding speakers and two renowned chairs who will lead the discussion towards the most controversial aspects.   Presenters Dr. Josep Belda Professor of Surgery, Autonomous University of Barcelona; Thoracic Surgeon and Scientific Coordinator of the Thoracic Surgery Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Spain   Dr. Miguel Congregado  MD, PhD, FEBTS General Thoracic Surgeon, Head of Department of Thoracic Surgery, Quironsalud Infanta Luisa Hospital; Innovation Coordinator of General Thoracic Surgery, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Spain   Dr. Santiago Figueroa Thoracic Surgeon, Clinical University Hospital of Valencia, Chair, Teaching Committee, Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery (SECT), Spain   Dr. María Teresa Gómez MD, PhD Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Salamanca University Hospital; Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Salamanca, Spain Read more

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } This e-learning module is based on the first presentation from the Medela-sponsored ESTS 2026 symposium, Delivering High-Value Thoracic Surgery: Outcomes, Processes and Quality Improvement. In this session, thoracic surgeon Andrea Billè (United Kingdom) explores the critical role of data in driving quality improvement initiatives. Learners will examine how baseline performance measurement, outcome evaluation, and identification of variations in clinical practice provide the foundation for improving patient care. The session highlights the importance of understanding current performance to support evidence-based decision-making, reduce unwarranted variability, and enhance outcomes in thoracic surgery. Key learning topics: The importance of measuring baseline performance Outcome evaluation as a driver of quality improvement Identifying variability in clinical practice Using data to support continuous improvement in thoracic surgery Continue the symposium series: Session 2: Creating Standardised Drain Management Pathways with Lars Geenen  Session 3: Implementation – Transforming Data and Pathway into Value-Based Clinical Care with Eric Lim Read more

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } This e-learning module is based on the second presentation from the Medela-sponsored ESTS 2026 symposium, Delivering High-Value Thoracic Surgery: Outcomes, Processes and Quality Improvement. In this session, Lars Geenen, PhD (The Netherlands) explores how evidence-based, standardized chest drain management pathways can improve quality and consistency in thoracic surgery. Learners will examine how standardized approaches can reduce variability in care, support earlier chest drain removal, and enable selective drain omission in appropriately selected patients. The session also addresses the practical and cultural challenges associated with implementing change and highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, clear clinical protocols, and continuous audit in achieving sustainable improvements in patient outcomes. Key learning topics: The role of standardized chest drain management pathways in reducing variability of care Strategies to support earlier chest drain removal and selective drain omission Common barriers to implementing practice change in thoracic surgery The importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and clear protocols Using continuous audit and feedback to support quality improvement initiatives Continue the symposium series: Session 1: Data: Evaluating Baseline of Quality Improvement and Variability of Care with Andrea Billè Session 3: Implementation: Transforming Data and Pathways into Value-Based Clinical Care with Eric Lim Read more

a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } This e-learning module is based on the third presentation from the Medela-sponsored ESTS 2026 symposium, Delivering High-Value Thoracic Surgery: Outcomes, Processes and Quality Improvement. In this session, Eric Lim (United Kingdom) examines how thoracic surgery teams can successfully translate data insights and standardized clinical pathways into sustainable, value-based clinical care. Building on the principles of measurement and pathway development explored in the previous sessions, learners will explore practical strategies for implementing change, improving adherence to evidence-based practices, and supporting Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programmes. The session highlights how effective implementation can reduce variability, improve patient outcomes, and create lasting value across the thoracic surgery care pathway. Key learning topics: Translating data insights into clinical practice improvements Implementing standardized pathways to support value-based care Strategies for driving and sustaining practice change The role of implementation in reducing variability and improving outcomes Supporting ERAS programmes through evidence-based clinical processes Continue the symposium series: Session 1: Data: Evaluating Baseline of Quality Improvement and Variability of Care with Andrea Billè  Session 2: Creating Standardised Drain Management Pathways with Lars Geenen  Read more