We found no significant differences between different types of drains .
Drains increase the harms to the patient without providing any additional benefit for patients undergoing open cholecystectomy and should be avoided in open cholecystectomy
BACKGROUND Cholecystectomy is the removal of gallbladder and is performed mainly for symptomatic gallstones .
Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is currently preferred over open cholecystectomy for elective cholecystectomy , reports of r and omised clinical trials comparing the choice of cholecystectomy ( open or laparoscopic ) in acute cholecystitis are still being conducted .
Drainage in open cholecystectomy is a matter of considerable debate .
Surgeons use drains primarily to prevent subhepatic abscess or bile peritonitis from an undrained bile leak .
Critics of drain condemn drain use as it increases wound and chest infection .
OBJECTIVES To assess the benefits and harms of routine abdominal drainage in uncomplicated open cholecystectomy .
Cholecystectomy with and without intraperitoneal drain.
383 patients undergoing cholecystectomy for non-acute gallbladder pathology were r and omized with regard to the use of an intraperitoneal drain .  187 patients were drained  , 196 patients were not drained . The postoperative course of temperature and liver laboratory tests , the duration of hospital stay and the postoperative morbidity were studied . There were no obviously significant differences between drained and undrained patients . Thus drainage of the subhepatic space after cholecystectomy as performed in this study , could not be associated with any disadvantages for the patient . The advantage of the intraperitoneal drain , could , because of a failing r and omization in 13 % of the patients not be completely evaluated . The preventive effect of the drain with regard to the incidence of postoperative complications however appeared to be very limited . The use of a prophylactic intraperitoneal drain after cholecystectomy could therefore safely be limited to appropriate patients as judged by the operating surgeon
We found no significant differences between different types of drains .
Drains increase the harms to the patient without providing any additional benefit for patients undergoing open cholecystectomy and should be avoided in open cholecystectomy
BACKGROUND Cholecystectomy is the removal of gallbladder and is performed mainly for symptomatic gallstones .
Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is currently preferred over open cholecystectomy for elective cholecystectomy , reports of r and omised clinical trials comparing the choice of cholecystectomy ( open or laparoscopic ) in acute cholecystitis are still being conducted .
Drainage in open cholecystectomy is a matter of considerable debate .
Surgeons use drains primarily to prevent subhepatic abscess or bile peritonitis from an undrained bile leak .
Critics of drain condemn drain use as it increases wound and chest infection .
OBJECTIVES To assess the benefits and harms of routine abdominal drainage in uncomplicated open cholecystectomy .