The effect of subcutaneous drain usage over morbidity in colorectal surgery

Surgical site infections are the most common hospital-acquired infections among surgical patients. Two thirds of the surgical site infections are confined to the incision and one third involve organs or spaces. Surgical site infections increase morbidity , hospital stay and costs. There are too many risk factors which may cause surgical site infection.Although colorectal procedures are known as clean-contaminated wounds, the incidence of surgical site infections in colorectal surgery is ranging between %3 and %30.The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of superficial incisional surgical site infection in colorectal procedures , the risk factors and to investigate the effects of subcutaneous drains on morbidity.During the study, 135 patients who had colorectal procedure were conducted. Subcutaneous drain was inserted in 70 patients. The rate of superficial incisional surgical site infection was %31.1. The risk factors associated with superficial incisional surgical site infection were; age, preoperative albümin levels, intraoperative blood transfusion and operation time.There is no significant difference between the patients who had been placed a subcutaneous drain and patients who had not been.In patients who had superficial incisional surgical site infection, there is no difference associated with the incidence of infection between the drains group and no drains group; but the drains group had a short hospital stay than no drains group. When purulent drainage from the drain occurs, the incision is followed without open drainage. This causes a better cosmetic result, less dressing wound, shorter hospital stay and lower costs.In conclusion; in colorectal surgery, with the insertion of subcutaneous drains superficial incisional surgical site infections can be treated without open drainage.Key words: Colorectal surgery, surgical site infections, subcutaneous drains