AUTHOR=Lakha Adil S. , Ahmed Shahzaib , Hunter James , O’Callaghan John 

TITLE=Prophylactic Peri-Nephric Drain Placement in Renal Transplant Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

JOURNAL=Transplant International

VOLUME=Volume 37 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/transplant-international/articles/10.3389/ti.2024.13030

DOI=10.3389/ti.2024.13030

ISSN=1432-2277

ABSTRACT= Renal transplantation is common worldwide, with >25,000 procedures performed in 2022. Usage of prophylactic perinephric drains is variable in renal transplantation; drains are associated with risks, and there is a lack of consensus as to the relative benefit of placing a drain intraoperatively in this patient cohort. This meta-analysis assessed whether prophylactic drainage reduced need for reintervention postoperatively. 

.A literature search was carried out June 2023. 1540 titles and abstracts were identified across four databases. Of these, 4 retrospective cohort studies were selected. Meta-analysis of 3 studies showed no evidence of a significant reduction in reintervention rate with pre-emptive drain placement,. Meta-analysis did not show a significant reduction in perinephric collections with prophylactic drain insertion. Finally, there is not good evidence that drain placement reduces superficial wound complications or improves 12-month graft survival.

Given the lack of current evidence basis supporting prophylactic perinephric drainage in renal transplantation, we advocate for case-by-case decision making in this patient cohort. Further work is needed, including well-designed, prospective studies to assess the risks and benefits of drain placement in these patients.