A comparison of two types of vacuum drainage after cholecystectomy

Following cholecystectomy, 50 patients were randomly allocated for suction drainage by small (2.5 mm) Redivac or large calibre (6 mm) Redivac drains. There were 25 patients in each group. Subhepatic collection was detected by ultrasonic examination in 5 patients on the seventh postoperative day. The smaller drain was used in all of these patients. Of these 5 patients, one developed pulmonary infection, a second had internal bleeding requiring laparotomy, while the remaining 3 were asymptomatic. Subhepatic fluid was not detected in any patient who had the larger drain.