Short answerNo. Wound drains did not lower the rate of infection or wound problems, and more people needed a blood transfusion.
Evidence grade
Does not helpNot enough evidenceHelps a littleGood evidence
Probably does not help
What it is
A closed suction drain is a thin tube left in the wound after surgery to draw off blood. The idea is to reduce swelling and bruising, and to lower the risk of infection. It is usually removed within a day or two.
What the research shows
in hip and knee replacement found that closed suction drainage had no major benefits. People with drains were more likely to need a blood transfusion, with a relative risk of 1.43 across 18 studies and 3,495 people.
of drains after orthopaedic surgery pooled 36 studies with 5,464 people. It found no significant difference in wound infection after hip or knee replacement. Blood transfusion was needed more often in people who had drains, and dressings needed to be reinforced more often in people who did not.
Risks and effort
A drain adds a tube to manage and a small wound where it exits. In these studies it did not prevent problems.
