Background: Drains continue to be an important aspect of the management of surgical patients. Its use has been contentious. However, when indicated, it is important that drainage should be practiced with prudence. Methods: Publications from both local and international journals through Medline, pub med and Google search (June-August, 2007) were reviewed. Results: Drains remove content of body organs, secretion of body cavities and tissue fluids such as blood, serum, lymph and other body fluid that accumulate in wound bed after surgical procedures. Therefore, reduction of pressure to surgical site as well as adjacent organs, nerves and blood vessels, enhances wound perfusion and wound healing. Reduction of pain is also achieved. However, drains are now known not to be innocuous especially when they are poorly selected, wrongly used and left in situ for too long. Essentially, passive and active drains are the most practically useful type. Conclusion:Understanding the benefits and applications of surgical drains and tissue responses to constituent material is not only relevant to a practicing surgeon but would help to reduce the abuse of surgical drains.

No abstract

Herniated gravid uterus in an incisional hernia of the anterior abdominal wall is relatively rare. A 30-year-old house wife presented with a six month gravid uterus that had herniated through an incisional hernia of the anterior abdominal wall. She had non-operative management till term, when she then had elective lower caesarian section. Physiotherapy of the anterior abdominal wall muscles to improve their tone was done. She subsequently had keel's repair of the hernia. Aggressive physiotherapy of the anterior abdominal wall muscles followed by keel's repair may be an alternative surgical technique in patients with a moderate defect of incisional hernia. Key words: Pregnancy, hernia, surgery RésuméUtérus de la gravide hernie dans une hernie incisionale de la paroi abdominale antérieure, est relativement rare. Une femme âgée de 30 ans s'est présentée atteinte d'un utérus gravide d'une durée de six mois, qui avait hernie à travers une hernie incision ale de la paroi abdominale antérieure. Elle avait non traitement opératoire au terme quand elle avait eu la césarienne élective dans le membre inférieur. La physiothérapie de la paroi abdominale antérieure des muscles a été opérée afin d'améliorer leur tonalite. Elle avait ensuite subi à la réparation du genou de l'hernie. Une physiothérapie agressive de la paroi des muscles abdominale antérieure survie par la réparation du genou peut être une intervention chirurgicale alternative chez les patients atteints d'une anomalie légère d'hernie incision ale.

No abstract

No abstract