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Intraperitoneal low-pressure suction drainage following splenectomy

A I Ugochukwu, M Irving

    The British Journal of Surgery
    |March 1, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    This study investigated subphrenic abscesses after splenectomy in 282 patients. Low-pressure closed suction drainage significantly reduced abscess formation, with only a 0.17% incidence.

    Area of Science:

    • Surgical outcomes
    • Infectious disease complications

    Background:

    • Splenectomy is a common surgical procedure.
    • Postoperative subphrenic abscess is a known complication of splenectomy.
    • Previous studies report higher incidence rates of subphrenic abscess.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine the incidence of postoperative subphrenic abscess after splenectomy.
    • To evaluate the effectiveness of low-pressure closed suction drainage in preventing subphrenic abscess.

    Main Methods:

    • A consecutive series of 282 patients undergoing splenectomy was studied.
    • Low-pressure closed suction drainage was utilized in the splenic bed for all patients.
    • Postoperative outcomes were monitored for the development of subphrenic abscess.

    Main Results:

    • Only two atypical subphrenic abscesses were observed.
    • The incidence of subphrenic abscess was 0.17%, which is significantly lower than reported in other series.
    • The low rate of abscess formation is attributed to the use of closed suction drainage.

    Conclusions:

    • Low-pressure closed suction drainage of the splenic bed is an effective method for reducing the incidence of postoperative subphrenic abscess after splenectomy.
    • This technique may represent a significant advancement in surgical safety for patients undergoing splenectomy.

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