This study was to determine whether drainage after radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy can reduce the risk of postoperative morbidity as compared with no drainage.

165 patients with stage Ia2 to Ilb underwent radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy between January 1995 and May 1997, and those medical records were analyzed, Closed suction drains were placed in group I (n 102), not in group II (n 67). All surgeries were perforrned by the same surgeon in a uniform method.

The characteristics of two groups were similar for mean age, preoperative weight, total protein, serum albumin, tumor cell histology, invasion depth, and tumor stage. There was no difference in mean operation time in two groups. But mean estimated blood loss was more in group I than group lI(p<0.05), Postoperative ileus and postoperative stay was similar in both groups. The incidence of pelvic lymphocyst and febrile morbidity in two groups were comparable with 17% in group I and 27% in poup II, but not statistically significant(p>0.05). Rehospitalization rate was higher in group I than in group II.

Pelvic drainage didn't reduce the postoperative febrile morbidity and lymphocyst formation. Therefore the author could not find any necessity to perform the drainage following radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.