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Is routine abdominal drainage necessary after liver resection?
Seidai Wada1, Etsuro Hatano2, Tomoaki Yoh1
1Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Surgery Today
|October 26, 2016
Summary
Routine abdominal drainage is unnecessary after liver resection. Studies show no significant difference in complications, and omitting drains shortens hospital stays for patients without bilio-enteric anastomosis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatobiliary Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Prophylactic abdominal drainage is a common practice post-liver resection.
- The necessity and impact of routine drainage require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of liver resection without abdominal drainage.
- To determine if routine abdominal drainage is essential after liver resection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 256 patients (July 2006-June 2009) with drainage versus 218 patients (July 2009-June 2012) without drainage.
- Comparison of postoperative complications, need for percutaneous drainage, and hospital stay between the two groups.
- Study focused on elective liver resections without bilio-enteric anastomosis.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in postoperative bleeding, intra-abdominal infection, or bile leakage rates were observed between groups.
- Drain insertion did not decrease the rate of subsequent percutaneous drainage.
- Patients in the no-drain group experienced a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay.
Conclusions:
- Routine abdominal drainage is not necessary for liver resections without bilio-enteric anastomosis.
- Omitting routine drains is a safe and potentially beneficial strategy, leading to shorter hospitalizations.
