Closed suction drainage versus no drainage following pelvic lymphadenectomy for gynecological malignancies

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore between October 1998 and July 1999. One hundred and forty three consecutive patients with various gynecological malignancies undergoing pelvic +/- aorto-caval lymphadenectomy as part of definitive surgical procedures, were analyzed. Sixty nine patients had closed suction retroperitoneal pelvic drainage (Group A) and 74 patients had no suction drainage and no pelvic reperitonealization (Group B). The mean postoperative hospitalization was 10 days in both groups. Six patients in Group A and four patients in Group B developed paralytic ileus which responded to conservative line of management. Five patients in Group A and two patients in Group B developed lymphocysts (P > 0.05). The present study demonstrates that closed suction retroperitoneal pelvic drainage following pelvic + aorto-caval lymphadenectomy confers no advantage over no drainage & no pelvic reperitonealization. The partial closure of pelvic peritoneum with no drainage was associated with increased lymphocyst formation (7/25 cases, 28%) during the period immediately before this modified study was undertaken.

Retroperitoneal drainage versus no drainage after pelvic lymphadenectomy for the prevention of lymphocyst formation in women with gynaecological malignancies

“…The exact role of the omental J-flap in the prevention of lymphocyst formation is unknown. In another prospective non-RCT comparing the e ects of closed suction pelvic drainage versus no suction drainage following pelvic/pelvic-para-aortic lymphadenectomy for 143 participants with various gynaecological malignancies (Bafna 2001), rates of lymphocyst formation were comparable between the study groups (7.3% in the drain group and 2.7% in the nodrain group). The pelvic peritoneum was sutured closed in the drain group and le open in the no-drain group.…”

Identifying Risk Factors for Complications Following Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Melanoma

“…12 Similar results are seen with drain placement following pelvic dissections for gynecologic malignancies. 13 However, there is no data available on the use of closed-suction drainage following SLNBX for melanoma. In this study, use of closedsuction drainage is clearly associated with a higher incidence of wound-specific complications.…”

Feasibility and Safety of Laparoscopic Surgery for Obese Korean Women with Endometrial Cancer: Long-Term Results at a Single Institution

“…The no drainage method has been shown to be as effective as the conventional drainage method ( 35 ). Patients could probably be discharged sooner by safely removing drainage tubes earlier than several days following their procedure or by completely avoiding the need for drainage tubes.…”