ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the value of unconventional prophylactic drain placement in laparoscopy assisted D2 gastrectomy for gastric cancer.METHODS: The clinical data of 193 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopy-assisted D2 Gastrectomy in Department of General Surgery,Chinese PLA General Hospital between February 2017 and February 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the abdominal drain was placed.The drain group comprised 150 patients with routine prophylactic intraabdominal drain placement and the no drain group comprised 43 patients without intra-abdominal drain placement after laparoscopy-assisted D2 gastrectomy.The general information,post-operative recovery and the incidence of postoperative complications were compared in the two groups.RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the general information and postoperative complications in the two groups.The no drain group had shorter hospital stay[(7.17±0.14)d vs.(10.88±0.88) d,(P<0.05)],and shorter exhaust time[(3.39±0.21)d vs.(4.30±0.16)d,P<0.01],less pain [VAS(3.23±0.61) vs.(5.39±0.42),(P<0.05)] and less times of wound dressing change after operation [(3.53±0.52)vs.(7.81±1.05),(P<0.05)] compared with the drain group.CONCLUSION: The unconventional prophylactic drain placement in laparoscopy assisted D2 gastrectomy is safe and feasible.Unnecessary drain placement should be avoided.