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A Plea for Many Fewer Drains

Frederick P. Ross, MD; Robert M. Quinlan, MD

Arch Surg. 1975;110(6):721-724.

Abstract
Routine drainage of cholecystectomy wounds has been abandoned at this community hospital and drainage is done only for excessive ooze of bile or blood; for acute suppurative, gangrenous, or perforated cholecystitis; and for extremely debilitated or immunosuppressed patients. In 800 consecutive cholecystectomies, no drain was used in 574 patients (71.7%). There was no increase in complications and no mortality in the undrained patients. There was a substantial decrease in the length of postoperative hospitalization, with 53% of the undrained patients discharged by the sixth postoperative day, compared to only 8.3% of those with drains. It is urged that gallbladder wounds be drained only for specific indications.

Author Affiliations
From the Surgical Service of the Burbank Hospital, Fitchburg, Mass.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 25, 1974.

Reprint requests to Burbank Professional Building, Fitchburg, MA 01420 (Dr. Ross).

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