Cholecystectomy without drainage

ABSTRACT

A study was planned to investigate the necessity of routine drainage after a cholecystectomy. Two surgical teams and two groups of 100 patients each were established. The first surgical team used drains after cholecystectomy, the second surgical team did not. A comparison of postoperative complications and duration of hospitalization was made between the two groups. Postoperative wound infection rates were 2% in the undrained group and 6% in the other group. This group was hospitalized for 3-8 days with a mean stay of 4.8 days. The drained group was hospitalized for 4-14 days with a mean of 6.4 days. We believe that drainage following an uncomplicated cholecystectomy will increase the duration of hospitalization and the postoperative complication rate