Role of Prophylactic Subcutaneous Drain in Reducing Surgical Site Infections in Patients Undergoing Elective Abdominal Surgery

Introduction: We are concerned about the wound healing in post operative patients, since wound complications will increase the morbidity of patient. Wound management is a basic practice in surgery, especially after an elective abdominal surgery. Our task after surgery is to avoid and thereby to reduce the adverse effects of wound complications such as hematoma, seroma and surgical site infection. The rationale for the use of subcutaneous drain is based on the principle that removal of the collecting serum or debris and elimination of dead space in subcutaneous plane will result in lower rate of infection and wound complications. Only a few studies are available in the literature regarding the role of subcutaneous drain in the prevention of local wound complications and majority of these studies were done in female patients who undergoes gynaecological or breast surgeries, with controversial results. Many elective abdominal surgeries are routinely performed in general surgical units of our institution and a subcutaneous collection in such patients increases the morbidity. Objectives: The main objective of our study is to determine whether subcutaneous drain can reduce the post operative wound complications in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. Discussion: Any surgery in obese individuals will have complications whether done electively or emergency. These include seroma, hematoma, wound dehiscence and surgical site infections. These complications will prolong the hospital stay of the patient and cause economic burden to the patient. These collections in the wound act as a nidus for infection. These complications will lead to wound failure or dehiscence. Conclusion: In our study it is concluded that placement of a subcutaneous drain in individuals with increased subcutaneous fat thickness helps in reducing the local wound complications and reducing the hospital stay of the patients and also aids in faster recovery.