Effect of hospitalisation on the rate of surgical site infection in dogs with Penrose drains.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to retrospectively report complication and infection rates associated with the use of Penrose drains in a large population of dogs; and to compare complication and infection rates of dogs hospitalised for maintenance of their Penrose drains with those that were discharged home with their drains in place. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective search of medical records from 2014 to 2022 for dogs that had a Penrose drain placed into a wound in one institution. Our population was sub-divided into dogs discharged home with a drain in place; dogs discharged only after drain removal; and dogs recovered part of the time in hospital and part at home (with the drain in&#xa0;situ). Postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo scale. RESULTS: Two hundred and eight dogs were included. The overall complication rate was 40.9% (85/208), with most complications considered minor. The overall infection rate was 16.9% (35/207). Dogs discharged home with the drain in&#xa0;situ <24&#x2009;hours after surgery (n=136) had similar complication (39.0%) and infection (16.2%) rates to dogs kept hospitalised for drain care (n=50, 42.9%, 18.4%) and dogs kept hospitalised for >24&#x2009;hours but discharged with the drain in&#xa0;situ (n=18, 50.0%, 22.2%). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our study results show no significant influence on the complication or infection rates between dogs that were hospitalised for drain care and those discharged home with drains in&#xa0;situ within 24&#x2009;hours of surgery.