Routine versus selective drainage of the gallbladder bed after cholecystectomy.

A review of 367 cases of patients undergoing cholecystectomy was made to compare the complication rates and the duration of hospital stay in the patients in whom the surgeon used routine drainage of the gallbladder bed and those in whom the surgeon used drainage selectively (only in those with severe inflammatory reaction, persistent leakage or injury to the liver bed). The patients in whom selective drainage was used had a significantly lower complication rate and a shorter hospital stay. It is concluded that routine drainage adds to the morbidity of simple cholecystectomy and should not be practiced.