“Historically, prophylactic intraoperative peritoneal drain placement has been advocated after hepatectomy in order to identify and drain bile leaks and decrease the risk of potential perihepatic fluid collections and abscess formation postoperatively. Several small randomized trials have suggested, however, that routine abdominal drainage after elective liver resection may not be necessary.”

“In a large, multi-institutional series of all patients who underwent major hepatectomy from 2000 to 2012 at 3 high-volume academic institutions, primary intraoperative drain placement after major hepatectomy did not decrease the need for secondary drainage procedures and was associated with increased bile leaks and 30-day readmissions. Routine drain placement at the time of major hepatectomy is not warranted”

Squires MH 3rd,et al . Value of primary operative drain placement after major hepatectomy: a multi-institutional analysis of 1,041 patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015 Apr;220(4):396-402.