Clinical Outcomes Between Natural Pressure Drainage And Negative Pressure Drainage After Lumbar Surgery

Recently,studies recommend against the routine use of drains after spinal surgery because it does not effectively reduce symptomatic hematoma formation and wound infection,but may cause other potential complications.However,most surgeons still use closed suction drainage to prevent hematoma formation.This study is to compare the clinical outcomes between natural pressure drainage and negative pressure drainage after posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF).From January 2018 to July 2018,total 97 patients who underwent lumbar fusion surgery in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively studied.According to different pressure drainage,the patients were divided into two groups: natural pressure drainage group(n = 46)and negative pressure drainage group(n = 51).The following indicators were recorded and compared: demographics,intraoperative blood loss,operative room time,drainage volume at the first postoperative day,total volume of postoperative drainage,indwelling time of drainage,postoperative temperature and postoperative complications(wound infection,symptomatic hematoma).The average drainage volume at the 1st postoperative day was 189.55±83.09 m L in negative pressure group and 136.00±49.86 m L(P =0.000)in natural pressure group.The average total volume of postoperative drainage in negative pressure group was 322.86±113.58 m L,while in natural pressure group it was 246.41±59.62 m L(P=0.000).The average total drainage days between two groups were significantly different(negative pressure group vs.natural pressure group;3.25±0.77 d vs.2.96±0.47 d,P= 0.026).There was no statistical difference in patient characteristics,operative data,postoperative temperature and complications.Natural pressure drainage significantly reduced postoperative drainage volume and indwelling time,but did not increase postoperative complications.therefore,Natural pressure drainage which is as safe and effective as negative pressure drainage may offer an alternative to negative pressure drainage.