Routine closed-suction drainage reduces seromas following totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair: A meta-analysis

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 103; no. 11; p. e37412
• Main Authors: Prassas, Dimitrios, Zaczek, Michael, David, Stephan Oliver, Knoefel, Wolfram Trudo, Vaghiri, Sascha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 15.03.2024
• Subjects: Drainage - adverse effects; Drainage - methods; Hernia, Inguinal - surgery; Herniorrhaphy - adverse effects; Herniorrhaphy - methods; Humans; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Seroma - epidemiology; Seroma - etiology; Seroma - prevention & control; Suction - methods; Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037412
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964

The value of prophylactic closed-suction drainage in totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP) is still a matter of controversy. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies examining postoperative seroma rates in patients with or without routine placement of closed-suction drainage tubes. A systematic literature search was conducted for trials comparing the outcome of TEP with or without routine drainage placement. Data regarding postoperative outcomes were extracted and compared by meta-analysis. The odds ratio and standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Four studies were identified, involving a total of 1626 cases (Drain: n = 1251, no Drain: n = 375). There was a statistically significant difference noted between the 2 groups regarding postoperative seroma formation favoring the Drain group (odds ratio = 0.12; 95% confidence intervals [0.05, 0.29]; P < .001; 4 studies; I2 = 72%). For the remaining secondary endpoints postoperative urinary retention, recurrence, mesh infection and in-hospital length of stay no statistically significant difference was noted between the 2 study groups. Current evidence suggests that patients who underwent TEP with routine closed-suction drain placement developed significantly fewer seromas without any additional morbidity or prolongation of in-hospital stay.