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Published on: December 27, 2024
Total gastrectomy with or without abdominal drains. A prospective randomized trial
R Alvarez Uslar1, H Molina, O Torres
1Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad de Concepción, Chile.
Revista Espanola De Enfermedades Digestivas
|November 4, 2005
Summary
This study found that using abdominal drains after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer increased postoperative complications and hospital stay. Omitting drains led to better outcomes, suggesting a potential benefit in managing these patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Oncology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Total gastrectomy for gastric cancer commonly leads to complications like anastomotic leaks and subphrenic abscesses.
- Abdominal drains are often used for early detection and management of these postoperative issues.
- The impact of abdominal drains on patient outcomes following total gastrectomy remains a subject of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of abdominal drains on postoperative morbidity and hospital stay in patients undergoing total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
- To compare outcomes between patients with and without abdominal drains, focusing on complications, length of stay, oral intake resumption, re-operations, and mortality.
- To analyze the clinical experience with drain usage in this specific surgical context.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized study involving 60 consecutive gastric cancer patients undergoing total gastrectomy.
- Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (no drains) and Group II (two drains).
- Outcomes assessed included postoperative morbidity, hospital stay duration, time to oral intake, relaparotomy rates, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Patients without drains (Group I) had a significantly shorter mean postoperative hospital stay (12.9 days) compared to those with drains (Group II, 18.8 days).
- Morbidity rates were significantly lower in the no-drain group (9.7%) versus the drain group (37.9%).
- While not statistically significant, re-operations and time to oral intake were also less favorable in the drain group.
Conclusions:
- The use of abdominal drains in total gastrectomy for gastric cancer was associated with increased postoperative morbidity and a longer hospital stay in this study.
- Findings suggest that omitting abdominal drains may lead to improved outcomes for selected gastric cancer patients.
- Further research may be warranted to refine drain management strategies in total gastrectomy procedures.
