Inzidenz und Einteilung postoperativer Wundinfektionen in der Viszeralchirurgie

Prophylactic subcutaneous drainage reduces post-operative incisional infections in colorectal surgeries: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Due to lack of high-level evidences, prophylactic subcutaneous drainage has so far not been recommended in relevant guidelines as a countermeasure against incisional infections. This meta-analysis aims to clarify the efficacy of subcutaneous drainage in reducing incisional infections in colorectal surgeries.

METHODS

Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing the incidence rate of incisional infections between patients receiving prophylactic subcutaneous drainage (interventions) and those not receiving (controls) after digestive surgeries. Results from included RCTs were pooled multiple times according to different surgical types. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and certainty of evidences were estimated.

RESULTS

Eight randomized controlled trials were included. Three RCTs each included patients receiving all sorts of digestive surgeries (gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic); pooled incisional infection rates between the drainage group and the control group were not significantly different (RR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.48-1.21, p = 0.25). Four RCTs included patients receiving colorectal surgeries; pooled incisional infection rate in the drainage group was significantly lower than that in the control group (RR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.19-0.61, p = 0.0004). Four RCTs included patients receiving upper GI and/or HBP surgeries; pooled incisional infection rates in the drainage group and the non-drainage group were not significantly different (RR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.54-1.34, p = 0.49).

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic subcutaneous drainage significantly reduces post-operative incisional infections in colorectal surgeries but was not efficacious in digestive surgeries in general.

Necessity of subcutaneous suction drains in ileostomy reversal (DRASTAR)-a randomized, controlled bi-centered trial

PURPOSE

Data regarding length of hospital stay of patients undergoing ileostomy reversal are very heterogeneous. There are many factors that may have an influence on the length of postoperative hospital stay, such as postoperative wound infections. One potential strategy to reduce their incidence and to decrease hospital stay is to insert subcutaneous suction drains. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the insertion of subcutaneous suction drains on hospital stay and postoperative wound infections in ileostomy reversal. Risk factors for postoperative wound infection were determined.

METHODS

This is a randomized controlled two-center non-inferiority trial with two parallel groups. The total length of hospital stay as primary endpoint and the occurrence of a surgical site infection, the colonization of the abdominal wall with bacteria, and the occurrence of hematomas/seromas as secondary endpoints were monitored.

RESULTS

One hundred eighteen patients with elective ileostomy reversal were included. Fifty-nine patients were randomly assigned to insertion of a subcutaneous suction drain, and 59 patients were randomly assigned to receive no drain. After 3 months of follow-up, 50 patients in the group with drain and 53 patients in the group without drain could be analyzed. Median total length of hospital stay was 8 days in the SD group and 9 days in the group without SD (p = 0.17). Fourteen percent of patients with SD and 17 % without SD developed SSI, p = 0.68. Multivariate analysis revealed anemia (p < 0.01), intraoperative bowel perforation (p = 0.02) and resident (p = 0.04) or fellow (p = 0.048) performing the operation as risk factors for SSI.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial shows that the omission of subcutaneous suction drains is not inferior to the use of subcutaneous suction drains after ileostomy reversal in terms of length of hospital stay, surgical site infections, and hematomas/seromas.