A COMPARATIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY TO EVALUATE THE ROLE OF DRAINS IN ELECTIVE AND EMERGENCY ABDOMINAL SURGERIES

Abstract

Background: Abdominal drainage following gastrointestinal surgery has often been a matter of contention. Advances in surgical techniques and perioperative patient care have consistently decreased postoperative complication rates. Aim: To determine the evidence-based value of prophylactic drainage versus non drainage in gastrointestinal surgeries and relative complications and morbidity associated with it. Material and Methods: A total of 82 patients were included in our study. All patients were divided into two groups- Group A and Group B randomly. Post-operatively patients were monitored and evaluated based on pre-determined outcome measures. Results: In our study out of 82 patints no signicant difference was seen (p value>0.01) when drain was compared to non drainage in routine surgeries with respect to ileus duration, anastomotic leak, surgical site infection, mortality, etc. Conclusions: When abdominal drain is routinely put, with its associated consequences, no clinical benet is derived. Therefore drainage in abdominal surgeries should not be routinely used in all patients however it can be used selectively in specic patients with clear indications.