The effect of surgical drainage materials on colonic healing.

The effect of surgical drainage materials on rat colonic healing has been investigated in a prospective randomized and controlled study. Latex, silicone rubber (Silastic), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) tubes were implanted alongside a colonic anastomosis and compared with a 'no drain' group using mechanical and histological assessments. There was a significant increase in anastomotic leakage in the latex group in which there appears to be a local inhibition of healing. Silastic, PVC and Teflon were not found to interfere with healing. The continued use of latex drains in colonic surgery is therefore questioned.