Is It Time to Abandon Routine Operative Drain Use? A Single Institution Assessment of 709 Consecutive Pancreaticoduodenectomies

BACKGROUND: Routine use of operative (primary) drains after pancreaticoduodenctomy (PD) remains controversial. We reviewed our experience with PD for postoperative (secondary) drainage and postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) rates based on use of primary drains. STUDY DESIGN: We identified consecutive patients who underwent PD between 2005 and 2012 from our pancreatectomy database. Primary closed suction drains were placed at the surgeon's...