Drainage of Abdomen in Peritonitis Due to Gastrointestinal Perforations, Comparison between Tube drain and Corrugated Drain

Abstract

Background: We do exploratory Laprotomy for peritonitis due to gastrointestinal perforations. Usually patients come late at tertiary centres, we do peritoneal lavage, and put tube drains in one or both flanks, which has a tendency to get blocked leading to collections in different intra-abdominal spaces. Methods: In this study, we compared the relative safety and effect of putting the corrugated drain instead of tube drain so that it does not get blocked. Corrugated drains were put in both the flanks and right sub-hepatic space to ensure free drainage from peritoneal cavity. Study was done on 50 patients (tube drains were put on 25 patients and corrugated drains were put on the other 25). Students chi-square test was done for qualitative differences and t-test was done to assess the quantitative differences. The p<0.05 was considered statistically insignificant. Results: Drainage of abdominal cavity/spaces is found to be better by corrugated drain, when compared with tube drain. Complications, collection of pus, tube blockage due to flakes or exudates were more common in tube drainage. However with corrugated drain frequent change of dressing was needed. The hospital stay expenditure and intervention for removal of collection was more in tube drainage. Conclusion: Drainage of abdominal cavity by corrugated drains is a safe and an effective method in laparotomy done for peritonitis due to gastrointestinal perforations and should be favoured in comparison to tube drains.