Cholecystectomy; is drainage necessary?

ABSTRACT

To compare the outcome of cholecystectomy with and without drainage. The study was carried out from Jun 2005 to Nov. 2006 at Unit III, Department of Surgery, Liaqat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro. All the patients diagnosed as cholelithiasis were treated with open cholecystectomy. The patients were randomly divided in group A and B. Number 18 Nasogastric tube was inserted in subheptic space after cholecystectomy in Group A, and no drain tube was placed in group B patients. Postoperatively patients in both groups were given same antibiotics. Postoperative complications and hospital stay were monitored in both groups. Exclusion criteria were cardiopulmonary disease, cirrhosis liver and diabeties mellitus. Patients with acute cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis were also excluded from study. Z-test is used to test the difference between proportions of two groups are statistically insignificant. During the study period a total of 100 patients were operated for cholelithiasis, with 50 patients in each group. The mean age for group A and B were 46 and 45 years respectively. The female to male ratio in the group A and B were 455 and 437 respectively. Mortality rate in both groups was zero. Group A had two cases of infected collection in subhepatic space and five cases of wound infection. In group B one patient with bile collection, one infected collection and two cases had wound infection. Mean hospital stay was 3.7 in group A as compared to 2.26 in group B. Both groups are statistically insignificant with respect to complications. Routine drainage after cholecystectomy is unnecessary