title: Indications for placement of drains in the splenic fossa.
abstract: Drainage of the splenic fossa has for years remained a controversial issue. A large potential space exists in the left hypochondrium following splenectomy. Proponents of the use of drainage maintain that drainage is safe, efficacious in removal of blood, serum, and pancreatic enzymes, and carries little, if any, risk of subsequent infectious morbidity. Critics of the use of drainage cite the heretofore reported high incidence of subphrenic abscess formation in those patients in whom drains are placed as the reason for abandoning routine or therapeutic drainage of the splenic fossa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of South Alabama, Mobile 36688.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dillard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luterman
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ferrara
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013154:Spleen / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013369:Subphrenic Abscess / Q000209:etiology