Unusual complication of postoperative abdominal drainage

Abstract

A 77-year-old male patient was treated surgically because of mesenterial ischemia. Gangrenous sigmoid and left colon were resected and unipolar colostomy was created at the level of the middle transverse colon. Standard abdominal drain (size 18) was placed in the left paracolic gutter. At second surgery a loop of small bowel was adjacent to distal part of the drain and there were two ischemic patches caused by vacuum effect of the drain holes. This report highlights the possible dangers of abdominal drain placement and discuss ways to prevent it.

Keywords

• Drain
• Necrosis
• Surgery
• Ischemia