The use of drains in elective surgery for colorectal cancer: always, never or selectively?

Indications for the use of drains of the peritoneal and pelvic cavity following elective surgery for colorectal cancer provide a source of continuing controversy. Analysis of the experimental and clinical studies indicates that routine drainage in needless with standard elective surgery for colon ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTumori Vol. 81; no. 3 Suppl; p. 89
Main Authors Averbach, A M, Sugarbaker, P H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.05.1995
Subjects
Clinical Trials as Topic
Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery
Drainage - adverse effects
Drainage - instrumentation
Elective Surgical Procedures
Humans
Surgical Wound Infection - prevention & control
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Summary:Indications for the use of drains of the peritoneal and pelvic cavity following elective surgery for colorectal cancer provide a source of continuing controversy. Analysis of the experimental and clinical studies indicates that routine drainage in needless with standard elective surgery for colon cancer. Some risk factors justify the selective use of drains when there is an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. In contrast, surgery for rectal cancer is associated with high risk of wound site complications and usually requires drainage with or without the filling of a pelvic "dead space" with well-vascularized soft tissues.
ISSN:0300-8916