title: Drain after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A randomized multicentre controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Routine drainage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still debatable. The present study was designed to assess the role of drains in laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed for nonacutely inflamed gallbladder.
  
  
  METHODS
  After laparoscopic gallbladder removal, 53 patients were randomized to have a suction drain positioned in the subhepatic space and 53 patients to have a sham drain. The primary outcome measure was the presence of subhepatic fluid collection at abdominal ultrasonography, performed 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcome measures were postoperative abdominal and shoulder tip pain, use of analgesics, nausea, vomiting, and morbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subhepatic fluid collection was not found in 45 patients (84.9 %) in group A and in 46 patients (86.8 %) in group B (difference 1.9 (95 % confidence interval -11.37 to 15.17; P = 0.998). No significant difference in visual analogue scale scores with respect to abdominal and shoulder pain, use of parenteral ketorolac, nausea, and vomiting were found in either group. Two (1.9 %) significant hemorrhagic events occurred postoperatively. Wound infection was observed in three patients (5.7 %) in group A and two patients (3.8 %) in group B (difference 1.9 (95 % CI -6.19 to 9.99; P = 0.997).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study was unable to prove that the drain was useful in elective, uncomplicated LC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital P. Colombo, Via Orti Ginnetti 7, 00049, Velletri, Rome, Italy. marcellopicchio@libero.it
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picchio
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.forename: Settimio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zazza
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Filippo
authors.forename: Raffaello
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pattaro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stipa
authors.forename: Adewale Oluseye
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Adisa
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Erasmo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spaziani
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013396:Suction