COMPLICATIONS OF INTRA ABDOMINAL DRAINS: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Objective: To compare frequency of intra-abdominal complications in drainage and non-drainage group among patents who underwent intra-abdominal surgeries. Study Design: Comparative prospective study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Surgery, Pakistan Ordinance Factory, Wah Cantt, from Mar 2018 to Jul 2018. Methodology: There were 32 patients, 16 in each group. Patients were selected through the process of consecutive sampling. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (random number table method); group A patients underwent intra-abdominal drain while group B was non-drainage group. Patients were followed up for 7 days and observed for complications. Results: Total 32 patients were included in the study. There were 14 (43.8%) males and 18 (56.3%) females. Mean age of patients was 43.2 ± 9.5 years. Drain group showed significantly low anastomosis leakage (p=0.02), wound infection (p=0.05), mortality (p=0.04), pulmonary complications (p=0.05) and bleeding (p=0.03) as compared to the non-drain group. Conclusion: Intra-abdominal drains are associated with several complications. Anastomosis leakage is the most common complication following pulmonary complications and bleeding. However, drains help in early detection of complications and timely management of such complications leads to better outcome of a surgical procedure.