CLOSED-SUCTION DRAINAGE VERSUS NO DRAINAGE FOLLOWING RADICAL ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY WITH PELVIC LYMPHADENECTOMY FOR STAGE IB CERVICAL-CANCER

Over a 7-year period from 1987 to 1994, 120 patients consecutive patie nts with FIGO stage IB invasive cervical cancer who underwent type 3 r adical abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy had either Jackson-Pratt closed-suction drainage (Group 1, patients 1-60) or no drainage (Group 2, patients 61-120). All surgeries were perform ed by the author in a uniform manner. No increase in postoperative pel vic infection, fistula, or lymphocyst formation was noted in the group of patients with no drainage following radical hysterectomy and lymph adenectomy. Routine closed-suction drainage following radical hysterec tomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy may be safely omitted. 1995 Academic P ress, Inc.