Subcutaneous continuous negative pressure drainage in the prevention of postoperative incision fat liquefaction and infection in obese colorectal cancer: a single-center retrospective analysis

Objective To study the subcutaneous continuous negative pressure drainage (CNPD) for the prevention of incision fat liquefaction and infection in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with obesity undergoing open radical resection. Methods A retrospective analysis of 210 obese patients with CRC receiving radical resection in our hospital from January 2005 to June 2015 were carried out to compare incision fat liquefaction and infection rate, clearing time, hospitalization interval and incidence of postoperative intestinal obstruction between patients of CNPD (drainage group, 91 cases) and non-CNPD (non-drainage group, 119 cases). Results In drainage and non-drainage group, fat liquefaction rates were 3.3% vs 10.9% (χ2=4.236, P=0.039), the rate of incision infection were 2.2% vs 9.2% (χ2=4.408, P=0.036). The postoperative clearing time and hospitalization interval of drainage group were shorter than non-drainage group (t=2.537, 2.032, P=0.027, 0.045, respectively). The proportion of intestinal obstruction was lower in drainage group than that in non-drainage group (5.5% vs 15.1%, χ2=4.905, P=0.027). The liquefaction rates of obese patients with diabetes mellitus were 4.0% vs 27.0% (χ2=5.421, P=0.020), and incision infection rate was 4.0% vs 24.3% (χ2=4.556, P=0.033) in two groups. Conclusions CNPD can effectively reduce incision fat liquefaction and infection rate, shorten the clearing time and hospitalization period, and may reduce the incidence of postoperative intestinal obstruction. For patients with diabetes, CNPD has obvious advantages on preventing incision fat liquefaction and infection. Key words: Colorectal neoplasms; Drainage; Open surgery; Fat liquefaction; Infection