Value of prophylactic abdominal drainage in 1269 consecutive cases of elective liver resection

The value of prophylactic abdominal drainage in patients undergoing hepatectomy is controversial. We carried out a retrospective study to clarify the value of this procedure.The study subjects were 1269 consecutive patients who underwent elective hepatectomy with drain insertion for malignant tumors without associated gastrointestinal procedures or bilio-enteric anastomosis. Symptomatic abdominal fluid collections were treated by the drain...