What do systematic reviews say?

Drain use vs No drain

Drain use showed no clear difference in mortality compared with no drain use following pancreatic surgery (low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.78 [0.31, 1.99]
  4 studies · 1055 participants
  Low
• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.23 [0.06, 0.9]
  2 studies · 478 participants
  Low

Drain use vs No drain

It is very uncertain whether drain use changes intra‐abdominal infection compared with no drain use following pancreatic surgery (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.97 [0.52, 1.8]
  4 studies · 1055 participants
  Very low

Drain use vs No drain

Drain use showed no clear difference in wound infection compared with no drain use following pancreatic surgery (low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.98 [0.68, 1.41]
  4 studies · 1055 participants
  Low

Drain use vs No drain

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 179 participants
  Low

Drain use vs No drain

Drain use showed no clear difference in morbidity compared with no drain use following pancreatic surgery (moderate certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.94, 1.13]
  4 studies · 1055 participants
  Moderate

Drain use vs No drain

Drain use showed no clear difference in length of hospital stay compared with no drain use following pancreatic surgery (low certainty).

• Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 876 participants
  Low