The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Oct 1983
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA prospective randomized study of drained and undrained cholecystectomies.
One hundred twenty-three patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy at USAF Medical Center Keesler were studied in a prospective randomized manner to determine the differences in morbidity and mortality following drained and undrained cholecystectomies. The groups were compared for differences in mortality, wound infection, postoperative fever, and length of hospitalization. One death occurred due to an unrelated cause in an undrained patient. ⋯ A significant difference occurred in postoperative fever between the drained (58%) and undrained (30%) groups. Postoperative hospitalization was also significantly shorter in the undrained group. This study suggests that drainage following elective cholecystectomy is not only unnecessary, but may add to postoperative morbidity and length of hospitalization.