Role of Subcutaeous Suction Drain in Reducing Surgical Site Infections in Emergency Abdominal Surgeries

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most important and common morbidity in postoperative patients. Collection of blood and/or serous fluids in subcutaneous spaces that later gets infected is an important factor for surgical site infections in emergency laparotomies. This study compares the incidence of surgical site infection in post emergency abdominal surgical wounds with subcutaneous suction drains versus those in whom drain was not placed. Methods: A prospective interventional study done with 50 subjects in department of surgery at rural tertiary centre. Based on exclusion and inclusion criteria patient were randomly selected for cases (with post-operative suction drain) and controls. Patients were followed up for 30 days from the date of surgery and observed for development of SSI. Results: 16% of patients in drain group and 36% of patients in non-drain group developed infection. Incidence of SSI in no drain group was double the times than the drain group statistically. Conclusions: Subcutaneous drain plays a significant role in reducing the incidence of surgical site infection in emergency laparotomy.