Revisiting the Value of Drains After Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer: a Multi-institutional Analysis of 996 Patients.
Rachel M LeeAdriana C GamboaMichael K TurgeonSanjana PrasadGifty KwakyeMaryam MohammedJennifer Holder-MurraySherif Abdel-MisihCharles KimbroughMosope SodaAlexander T HawkinsWilliam C ChapmanMatthew SilvieraShishir K MaithelGlen BalchPublished in: Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (2020)
Although not associated with increased infectious complications, intraoperatively placed pelvic drains after low anterior resection for rectal cancer are associated with an increase in anastomotic leak rate and no reduction in the need for secondary drain placement or reoperation. Routine drainage appears to be unnecessary.