Purpose. Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a significant problem after laparotomies. The aim of this review was to assess the\nevidence on the efficacy of subcutaneous wound drainage in reducing SSI. Methods.MEDLINE database was searched. Studies were\nidentified and screened according to criteria to determine their eligibility for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis was performed using\nthe Mantel-Haenszel method and a fixed effects model. Results. Eleven studies were included with two thousand eight hundred\nand sixty-four patients. One thousand four hundred and fifty patients were in the control group and one thousand four hundred\nand fourteen patients were in the drain group.Wound drainage in all patients shows no statistically significant benefit in reducing\nSSI incidence. Use of drainage in high risk patients, contaminated wound types, and obese patients appears beneficial. Conclusion.\nUsing subcutaneous wound drainage after laparotomy in all patients is unnecessary as it does not reduce SSI risk. Similarly, there\nseems to be no benefit in using it in clean and clean contaminated wounds.However, there may be benefit in using drains in patients\nwho are at high risk, including patients who are obese and/or have contaminated wound types.A well designed trial is needed which\nexamines these factors.
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