When should a drain be left in the abdominal cavity upon surgery?
Laine, M.; Mentula, P.; Koskenvuo, L.; Nordin, A.; Sallinen, V.
Duodecim; Laaketieteellinen Aikakauskirja 133(11): 1063-1068
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7183 PMID: 29243897 Document Number: 694640
Passive or active drainage can be used after abdominal surgery. Drains aim at eradicating infected or inflammatory tissue fluids and to alarm of undesired events such as bile, pancreatic, or bowel leak. Drains may, however, occlude or be situated away from the postoperative dilemma. Furthermore, drains themselves are susceptible to cause or maintain infection by retrograde contamination, may irritate the peritoneum causing excess ascites formation, and cause pain. Recent scientific evidence suggests that drains are unnecessary after most abdominal operations. Thus, drains should be used only in certain specific operation types such as pancreatic and emergency surgery. In other operations drains can be omitted if no clear risk factors are present.