Assessment of Peritoneal Irrigation and Drainage Following Elective Gastric Cancer Surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Peritoneal irrigation and drain insertion were traditionally performed following major abdominal surgery, as routine procedures The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the usefulness of peritoneal irrigation and drain insertion following elective gastric cancer surgery. METHODS: Between December 2000 and Feburary 2002, 184 patients having undergone surgery for gastric cancer were divided into two groups, a comparative group (86 patients with peritoneal irrigation and drainage) and an experimental group (98 patient without peritoneal irrigation and drainage). The demographics, histopathological classification, range of dissection, comorbid disease, first passage of flatus, start of soft diet, operation time, anesthesia time and operative complication were analyzed retrospectively in consecutive patients. The data were analyzed by student's t-tests with the level of significance set at P<0.05. RESULTS: No significance differences were found between the two groups in regard to demographics, range of dissection, comorbid disease or complications. However the mean length of hospitalization, operation time and anesthesia time and the first passage of flatus, and start of soft diet in the experimental group were significantly shorter than those in the comparative group. CONCLUSION: The result shows that routine peritoneal irrigation and drain insertion following elective gastric cancer surgery are ineffective in reducing postoperative complications. We think these procedures are unnecessary and offer no considerable advantages.