There were no significant differences between the two groups in the rates of intra-peritoneal abscess or wound infection .
It is not clear whether routine abdominal drainage has any effect on the prevention of intra-peritoneal abscess after open appendectomy for complicated appendicitis .
Abdominal drainage after an emergency open appendectomy may be associated with delayed hospital discharge for patients with complicated appendicitis
BACKGROUND Appendectomy , the surgical removal of the appendix , is performed primarily for acute appendicitis .
Patients who undergo appendectomy for complicated appendicitis , defined as gangrenous or perforated appendicitis , are more likely to suffer from postoperative complications .
The routine use of abdominal drainage to reduce postoperative complications after appendectomy for complicated appendicitis is controversial .
OBJECTIVES To assess the safety and efficacy of abdominal drainage to prevent intra-peritoneal abscess after open appendectomy for complicated appendicitis .
A perforated appendix: should we drain?
The effectiveness of intraperitoneal drain was studied on patients undergoing appendicectomy for perforated appendicitis . R and omly 40 patients were allocated with drainage by corrugated rubber drains  and 46 patients were without drainage .  There were 5 deaths in the series , out of which 4 ( 10 % ) were in the drainage group and one ( 2.2 % ) in the group without drainage . The incidences of major wound sepsis , paralytic ileus , intraperitoneal abscess and urinary infection were observed in 55 % , 42.5 % , 12.5 % and 15 % respectively in drainage group and 50 % , 28.3 % , 21.7 % and 15.2 % respectively in non-drainage group . Occurrence of subphrenic abscess ( 7.5 % ) , burst abdomen ( 5 % ) and faecal fistula ( 5 % ) were confined to drainage group only
There were no significant differences between the two groups in the rates of intra-peritoneal abscess or wound infection .
It is not clear whether routine abdominal drainage has any effect on the prevention of intra-peritoneal abscess after open appendectomy for complicated appendicitis .
Abdominal drainage after an emergency open appendectomy may be associated with delayed hospital discharge for patients with complicated appendicitis
BACKGROUND Appendectomy , the surgical removal of the appendix , is performed primarily for acute appendicitis .
Patients who undergo appendectomy for complicated appendicitis , defined as gangrenous or perforated appendicitis , are more likely to suffer from postoperative complications .
The routine use of abdominal drainage to reduce postoperative complications after appendectomy for complicated appendicitis is controversial .
OBJECTIVES To assess the safety and efficacy of abdominal drainage to prevent intra-peritoneal abscess after open appendectomy for complicated appendicitis .