title: Is It Necessary To Place Prophylactically an Abdominal Drain To Prevent Surgical Site Infection in Abdominal Operations? A Systematic Meta-Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is still uncertainty regarding the use of prophylactic drainage in abdominal surgical procedures. This meta-review aimed to summarize systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating abdominal drain placement in patients undergoing abdominal procedures, with a focus on surgical site infection and death from infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic reviews and meta-analyses identified in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, World Health Organization Regional Medical Databases, and African Index Medicus were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen systematic reviews and meta-analyses concerning prophylactic abdominal drainage in abdominal operations were included in this analysis. The median score of methodologic quality was eight (6-10). The majority of meta-analyses found no benefits of prophylactic drainage in reducing surgical site infection, but no significant differences were identified. Three studies demonstrated a significant difference in favor of no drainage, with two regarding cholecystectomy and one on appendectomy (p < 0.05). The quality of evidence provided by each review was mainly low and very low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most reviews fail to detect an increased incidence of surgical site infection in the setting of drainage placement but also fail to attribute any specific benefits to the presence of a drain in abdominal procedures.
authors: 1 Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University , Nanjing, China .
authors: Xiuwen
authors: X
authors: Wu
authors: 1 Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University , Nanjing, China .
authors: Weiliang
authors: W
authors: Tian
authors: 2 Infection Prevention and Control Unit, Department of Service Delivery & Safety, World Health Organization , Geneva, Switzerland .
authors: Nejla Zeynep
authors: NZ
authors: Kubilay
authors: 1 Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University , Nanjing, China .
authors: Jianan
authors: J
authors: Ren
authors: 1 Department of Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University , Nanjing, China .
authors: Jieshou
authors: J
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004322:Drainage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*