title: Prophylactic closed suction drainage of femoral wounds in patients undergoing vascular reconstruction.
abstract: Prophylactic closed suction drainage has been advocated in a variety of surgical wounds, but its use in wounds involving vascular anastomoses has not been studied. Fifty patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization that required bilateral groin incisions were randomly assigned to have either the right or left side of the groin drained with a closed suction catheter. The contralateral wound was closed without drainage. Statistically there was no difference between wound closed with drains and undrained wounds in the occurrence of hematomas, seromas, lymphoceles, superficial infections, subcutaneous infections, or graft infections; although serious complications were more frequent in the drained wounds. Prophylactic closed suction drainage appears to offer no advantage over closure without drainage in wounds of the groin resulting from elective vascular operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keyser
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Holcomb
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006119:Groin / Q000601:surgery; D006406:Hematoma / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000517:prevention & control; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene