title: Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer with versus without prophylactic drainage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little has been reported on routine prophylactic abdominal drainage after gastrectomy, especially after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). We conducted this retrospective study on patients undergoing LADG to evaluate the benefit of routine drainage in LADG procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 21 patients who underwent surgery for early gastric cancer (EGC) between January 2004 and March 2008. They comprised 10 who underwent LADG with drainage before January 2006 and 11 who underwent LADG without drainage after February 2006. We compared patient and tumor characteristics, operative results, and postoperative outcomes between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The no-drain group of patients were able to eat their first meal significantly sooner than the drain group patients (P < 0.01); however, the time to start ambulating, passing flatus, and drinking was similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in the postoperative complication rate or the postoperative hospital stay. The drain did not seem to add benefit, and no complications due to the lack of drain placement were noted in the no-drain group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine prophylactic abdominal drainage after LADG for EGC may not be necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Nakatsu Municipal Hospital, 173 Shimoikenaga, Nakatsu, Oita, 871-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumata
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kishihara
authors.forename: Yasuro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuyama
authors.forename: Hidetaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masuda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome