Cholecystectomy with and without intraperitoneal drain

383 patients undergoing cholecystectomy for non-acute gallbladder pathology were randomized with regard to the use of an intraperitoneal drain. 187 patients were drained, 196 patients were not drained. The postoperative course of temperature and liver laboratory tests, the duration of hospital stay and the postoperative morbidity were studied. There were no obviously significant differences between drained and undrained patients. Thus drainage of the subhepatic space after cholecystectomy as performed in this study, could not be associated with any disadvantages for the patient. The advantage of the intraperitoneal drain, could, because of a failing randomization in 13% of the patients not be completely evaluated. The preventive effect of the drain with regard to the incidence of postoperative complications however appeared to be very limited. The use of a prophylactic intraperitoneal drain after cholecystectomy could therefore safely be limited to appropriate patients as judged by the operating surgeon.