To investigate the feasibility and safety of non-abdominal drainage after hepatectomy for primary liver cancer (PLC).

Clinical data of 201 PLC patients who underwent hepatectomy in the First People's Hospital of Foshan from January 2012 to September 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 172 patients were male and 29 female, aged (54±12) years on average. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. All patients were divided into the non-drainage (n=78) and drainage groups (n=123) according to whether abdominal drainage was performed. The incidence of postoperative complications, such as ascites, bile leakage, bleeding, and abdominal infection, were compared between two groups. Intraoperative bleeding volume and length of hospital stay were compared between two groups by using rank-sum test. The incidence of complications was analyzed by Chi-square test.

In the non-drainage group, the intraoperative bleeding volume was 300(1 450) ml, significantly less than 400(5 970) ml in the drainage group (Z=-2.293, P<0.05). The length of postoperative hospital stay was 8(23) d in the non-drainage group, significantly shorter than 10(63) d in the drainage group (Z=-2.132, P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the non-drainage and drainage groups were 36%(28/78) and 41%(51/123) without significant difference (χ2=0.620, P>0.05). In two groups, 4 and 13 cases received postoperative ultrasound-guided interventional therapy respectively without significant difference (χ2=1.825, P>0.05). No death occurred within postoperative 30 d in both group.

It is unnecessary to give routine abdominal drainage after hepatectomy for PLC. Non-abdominal drainage can shorten the length of hospital stay and accelerate recovery. Explicit operation, effective hemostasis and anatomical liver resection can guarantee the postoperative safety. Intimate observation is required after hepatectomy, and interventional treatment can be delivered if necessary.