PROLONGED SUCTION DRAINAGE PREVENTS SEROUS WOUND DISCHARGE AFTER CARDIAC-SURGERY

A series of 180 patients was randomised to two groups after median ste rnotomy performed for cardiac surgery in order to evaluate the effect of suction drainage on serous wound discharge. In group A all wounds w ere drained using two conventional mediastinal drains, while in group B one suction drain and one conventional mediastinal drain were employ ed. Five patients developed serous wound discharge in group B compared with 14 in group A(chi(2), P<0.02). There were no significant differe nces between the rates of major wound infection (group A, n=1; group B , n=1 or the incidence of postoperative pericardial effusion assessed by echocardiography(group A, n=10; group B, n=5).