Lesson learnt from a migrated drain: A case report

INTRODUCTION: Though surgical drainage is used as a safety measure, it's not without complications. Migration of various drains has been described, but very little literature refers to the migration of peritoneal drain. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 55-year male underwent anterior Gastro-Jejunostomy for inoperable metastatic carcinoma of the Gastric Pylorus. We found the peritoneal drain missing on the third post-operative day. On further evaluation, we found it to have migrated into the peritoneal cavity. We opened the operative wound for a partial length and retrieved the drain. DISCUSSION: We did research to find why drain migrates and searched literature on migration of peritoneal drains. The possible etiologies for drain migration are (1) Drain hasn't been fixed properly (2) Cutting through of suture material (3) Relatively low abdominal pressure (4) Pressure over the drain by patient's body weight when he lies on the same side as drain. CONCLUSION: Every use of drain should be weighed for its needs and risks. Proper precautions during drain placement avoid unnecessary complications, morbidity and prolonged hospital stay.