[Cecal perforation secondary to surgical drainage. A case report].

BACKGROUND: The use of surgical drains in abdominal surgery is still today controversial. While accepting their role in certain circumstances, their systematic use advocated by other schools, is not fully accepted. We present a case of secondary blind drilling drainage tube perineum following an abdominoperineal amputation of the rectum that forced a surgical repair in a neoplastic patient

CLINICAL CASE: This is a patient who underwent abdomino perineal resection for rectal neoplasia. It was decided to leave a silicone-type drain tube for perineum and in late postoperative he presented cecum perforation due to traumatic introduction thereof into the cecal light, which forced his reoperation and surgical repair.

DISCUSSION: There is a tendency to use less and less drains in abdominal surgery, although there are certain occasions when it becomes inevitable. On the other hand it entails morbidity associated with its use that significantly complicates and delays the recovery of the patient. It is accepted that is not useful to prevent the occurrence of fistulas, although it contributes to its early detection.

CONCLUSIONS: The cecal perforation due to drain is a rare complication which must always be taken into account, and that perhaps could be avoided by using soft and less rigid drains.