Is reperitonealization of the gallbladder bed a ritual or necessity?

Reperitonealization of the gallbladder bed after cholecystectomy is the standard procedure described in many textbooks of surgery. Most surgeons who advocate nondrainage after cholecystectomy also routinely obliterate the gallbladder bed. The theoretic considerations are a decrease in post-operative drainage and avoidance of adhesions to the liver. To evaluate the validity of the first consideration, 88 patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy were randomly allocated into two groups. In the first group, the gallbladder bed was reperitonealized whereas in the second group, the raw surface was left uncovered. No significant difference in the amount of postcholecystectomy drainage could be demonstrated in the two groups of patients studied.