THE EFFECT OF DRAINS IN LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

A prospective controlled randomized study was performed on 100 patient s undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy to evaluate the ben efit of routine drainage in simple uncomplicated procedures. The 100 p atients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 patients (n = 50) had a drain placed through the epigastric trocar site. The drain was remo ved before their discharge unless bile or blood was present. Group 2 p atients (n = 50) did not have a drain placed. Eleven patients in group 2 (no drain) (22%) were discharged on the same day of surgery (within 8 h), and the remaining 89 patients in both groups were discharged th e day after surgery (within 23 h). There were no wound infections or p ostoperative fever in either group. There were minor but not statistic ally significant differences between the two groups in postoperative s everity and duration of abdominal pain, shoulder pain, and nausea. Fur thermore, the two groups were similar in respect to postoperative reco very time and return to work.