Is prophylactic placement of drains necessary after subtotal gastrectomy?

Aim: To determine the evidence-based values of prophylactic drainage in gastric cancer surgery.

Methods: One hundred and eight patients, who underwent subtotal gastrectomy with D1 or D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer between January 2001 and December 2005, were divided into drain group or no-drain group. Surgical outcome and post-operative complications within four weeks were compared between the two groups.