ObjectiveTo compare the incidence of complications after removal of chest drainage tube in the early and late stages after sublobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to analyze the factors affecting postoperative pleural drainage volume (PDV), so as to explore the countermeasures and achieve rapid postoperative rehabilitation. MethodsThe patients with NSCLC who underwent minimally invasive sublobar resection in our hospital from January to October 2021 were enrolled. According to the median time of extubation, the patients were divided into an early extubation group (time with tube≤3 days) and a late extubation group (time with tube>3 days). The patients were matched via propensity score matching with a ratio of 1∶1 and a caliper value of 0.2. The incidence of complications and perioperative parameters after removal of the thoracic drainage tube were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed according to the PDV of all patients after the surgery. ResultsA total of 157 patients were enrolled, including 79 males and 78 females, with an average age of 58.22±11.06 years. There were 76 patients in the early extubation group, 81 patients in the late extubation group, and 56 patients were in each group after propensity score matching. Compared with late extubation group, there was no significant difference in the incidence of infection after extubation (10.7% vs. 16.1%, P=0.405) and pleural effusion after extubation (5.4% vs. 3.6%, P=0.647) in early extubation group, and there was no second operation in both groups. Univariate analysis showed that the following factors were influencing postoperative PDV increase, including smoking history (P=0.001), serum albumin difference (P=0.017), surgical approach (P=0.014), lesion location (P=0.027), differentiation (P=0.041), TNM stage (P=0.043), number of dissected lymph nodes (P=0.016), and intraoperative blood loss (P=0.016). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that smoking history (P=0.002), serum albumin difference (P=0.041), and the number of dissected lymph nodes (P=0.023) were independent risk factors for increased postoperative PDV. ConclusionThere is no significant difference in the incidence of complications after extubation between early and late extubations. Preoperative smoking history, excessive postoperative serum albumin decreases, and excessive number of dissected lymph nodes during the surgery are independent risk factors for increased postoperative PDV.