Drains and antibiotics perioperatively for elective cholecystectomy

In a review of 512 patients having elective cholecystectomies without choledochotomy, patients having drainage of the gallbladder bed were found to have longer postoperative hospital stays, higher incidences of fever postoperatively and both wound infections and postoperative complications than those patients not having such drainage. The use of antibiotics perioperatively and gallbladder bed closure did not alter these outcomes. We conclude that the routine use of drainage and prophylactic antibiotics in elective cholecystectomy not only is unnecessary but also may be harmful.