ReviewSurgical infections2013
A multi-disciplinary review of the potential association between closed-suction drains and surgical site infection.
Review in Surgical infections, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Evaluating the Surgical Outcomes of Progressive Tension Suturing Compared to Drains in Abdominoplasty Surgery.Aesthetic surgery journal · 2024Pooled it
- Negative pressure wound management in perineal wound status post abdominoperineal resection and extralevator abdominoperineal excision: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.International journal of colorectal disease · 2023Pooled it
- Prevention of lymphocele or seroma after mastectomy and axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2022Pooled it
- Passive Versus Active Intra-Abdominal Drainage Following Pancreatic Resection: Does A Superior Drainage System Exist? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.World journal of surgery · 2021Pooled it
- Use of Prolonged Prophylactic Antibiotics with Closed Suction Drains in Ventral Abdominal Hernia Repair.The American surgeon · 2019Pooled it
- [Incidence of surgical site infections in sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis].The Pan African medical journal · 2016Pooled it
- Patient, Surgery, and Hospital Related Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infections following Total Hip Arthroplasty.TheScientificWorldJournal · 2015Pooled it
- Surgical management of plexiform neurofibromas: An imaging-based perioperative framework.JPRAS open · 2026Review
- Are Drains After Trauma Splenectomy Associated with Organ Space Surgical Site Infections?Surgical infections · 2026Article
- Optimizing perioperative care in autologous breast reconstruction: a narrative review.Gland surgery · 2026Review
- Review
- Review
- The Role of Tranexamic Acid Use in Reduction Mammaplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2025Review
- Optimal Use of Drain Tubes for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction: Comprehensive Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- The usefulness of surgical drains on short term outcomes among patients undergoing craniotomy at the Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza Tanzania.World neurosurgery: X · 2024Article
- Ten golden rules for optimal antibiotic use in hospital settings: the WARNING call to action.World journal of emergency surgery : WJES · 2023Review
- Infections of Tumor Prostheses: An Updated Review on Risk Factors, Microbiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Strategies.Biology · 2023Review
- Procedures Never Explained in Textbooks: How to Correctly Convert a Closed-Suction Drain to a Closed-Gravity Drain, and How to Correctly Remove a Closed-Suction Drain Off Suction.Journal of surgery and research · 2022Article
- The European Hernia Society Prehabilitation Project: A Systematic Review of Intra-Operative Prevention Strategies for Surgical Site Occurrences in Ventral Hernia Surgery.Frontiers in surgery · 2022Review
- Postoperative antibiotics and infection rates after implant-based breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in surgery · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDespite the putative advantages conferred by closed-suction drains (CSDs), the widespread utilization of post-operative drains has been questioned due to concerns regarding both efficacy and safety, particularly with respect to the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). Although discipline-specific reports exist delineating risk factors associated with SSI as they relate to the presence of CSDs, there are no broad summary studies to examine this issue in depth.
methodsThe pertinent medical literature exploring the relationship between CSDs and SSI across multiple surgical disciplines was reviewed.
resultsAcross most surgical disciplines, studies to evaluate the risk of SSI associated with routine post-operative CSD have yielded conflicting results. A few studies do suggest an increased risk of SSI associated with drain placement, but are usually associated with open drainage and not the use of CSDs. No studies whatsoever attribute a decrease in the incidence of SSI (including organ/space SSI) to drain placement.
conclusionsUntil additional, rigorous randomized trials are available to address the issue definitively, we recommend judicious use and prompt, timely removal of CSDs. Given that the evidence is scant and weak to suggest that CSD use is associated with increased risk of SSI, there is no justification for the prolongation of antibiotic prophylaxis to "cover" an indwelling drain.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.