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Subcutaneous Suction Drainage System for Prevention and Treatment of Fat Liquefaction of Abdominal Vertical Incision in Obese Patients: A Prospective Randomized Trial

ObjectiveTo investigate the necessity and value of subcutaneous suction drainage in the prevention of fat liquefaction of postoperative abdominal vertical incision for obese patients. MethodsThree hundred and fortytwo obese patients underwent abdominal vertical incision from February 2008 to October 2010 were randomly divided into indwelling tube group and noindwelling tube group in our department of general surgery and obstetrics and gynecology. Agrade healing rate, the incidences of fat liquefaction and incision complications, mean healing time of incision, patient satisfaction, foreign body sensation, and direct medical costs were evaluated. ResultsThree hundred and twentyeight cases were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 165 patients in the indwelling tube group and 163 patients in the noindwelling tube group. There were not significant differences of age, gender, fat thickness, surgical time, incision length, and BMI between two groups (Pgt;0.05). The incidence of foreign body sensation of the no-indwelling tube group was less than that of the indwelling tube group 〔3.7% (6/163) versus 50.3% (83/165 )〕, Plt;0.05. The score of patient satisfaction of the no-indwelling tube group was higer than that of the indwelling tube group 〔(9.2±2.8) points versus (6.8±1.7) points〕, Plt;0.05. There were no significant differences in incidences of fat liquefaction and incision complications, A-grade healing rate, mean healing time of incision, and direct medical costs between two groups (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionIt’s unnecessary to indwell a conventional suction drainage tube to prevent fat liquefaction of the obese patient with vertical abdominal incision.