The use of drains in pancreatic surgery, both in distal pancreatectomy (DP) and partial pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the potential benefit of drainage use in pancreatic surgery on postoperative outcomes.

A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Web of Science and CENTRAL. All RCTs investigating the use and management of any drainage in patients undergoing pancreatectomy were included. Data on mortality, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay (LOS) were analysed. A random-effects model for Mantel-Haenzsel and inverse variance analysis was used. Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool and GRADE approach was used for assessment of risk of bias and certainty of evidence.

Ten RCTs investigating drainage vs no drainage, timing of drainage removal or type of drainage in PD such as DP with a total of 2004 patients were included. Drainage vs no drainage: Three RCTs (two with PD and DP, one with PD only). Neither mortality (OR 1.57, 95%-CI: 0.62 to 3.93 p=0.34) nor overall complications (OR 0.88, 95%-CI: 0.71 to 1.08, p=0.21) differed between both groups (certainty of evidence: low). However, one trial was stopped prematurely because of higher 90-day mortality in the no drainage group. Early vs late drainage removal: Four RCTs (two with PD and DP, two with PD only). Early drain removal resulted in both a significant reduction of chyle leak (OR 0.22, 95%-CI: 0.06 to 0.59, p<0.01) as well as a shortening of LOS (mean difference -2.64 days, 95%CI: -4.63 to -0.65, p<0.01). For both outcomes the certainty of evidence was moderate. Mortality, postoperative pancreatic fistula and hemorrhage showed no difference between early vs late drainage removal (certainty of evidence: low). Active vs passive drainage: Three RCTs (one with PD and DP, two with PD only). None of the studies found any significant difference in outcome with regard to the type of drainage.

There is no evidence that drainages after pancreatic surgery should be standard of care. However, there is also no evidence that placing a drain leads to worse outcomes. If a drainage is used it should be removed early to avoid chyle leak and accelerate hospital discharge.