Prophylactic Abdominal Drainage After Elective Colonic Resection and Suprapromontory AnastomosisA Multicenter Study Controlled by Randomization

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Abstract
THE COLONIC lumen contains between 108 and 1010 aerobic and anaerobic germs per gram of feces.1 This might explain why postoperative infective complications, the prevalence of which ranges from 10% to 70%,2,3 may be higher in patients undergoing surgery of the colon than in those undergoing any other abdominal surgery. Anastomotic leakage is the leading cause of postoperative infective complications, responsible for 25% to 35% of deaths.4,5 Several procedures have been described to decrease the rate and the severity of postoperative complications, especially infective complications, as well as to decrease anastomotic leakage. These include antibiotic prophylaxis,2 antiseptic mechanical preparation,6 diverting stomas,7 omental wrapping around the anastomosis,8,9 and intraoperative airtightness testing leading to complete anastomotic airtightness integrity.9