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 .
Influence of intraperitoneal drains on subhepatic collections following cholecystectomy: A prospective clinical trial
In this prospect i ve r and omized study , the influence of an intraperitoneal drain on the incidence and clinical significance of subhepatic collection s occurring in patients after acute or elective cholecystectomy was assessed by ultrasound examination . A total of 112 patients entered the study , of whom 54 received a drain .  There was no significant difference between the drainage and the non‐drainage groups with respect to mean age or sex distribution , the number of patients in whom the gallbladder bed was formally closed ( 27 versus 21 ) nor in the number of acute cholecystectomies performed in either group ( 12 versus 13 ) . Ultrasound detected 10 ( 18 per cent ) collection s in the drainage group and only one ( 1·8 per cent ) in the non‐drainage group ( P < 0·01 , χ2 test ) . None of the collection s required any further treatment and no morbidity occurred that was directly attributable to the presence of the retained fluid . These results suggest that rather than preventing fluid collection s , suction drains may predispose to the development of subhepatic collection s after cholecystectomy
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 .