Laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis in children: does the post-operative peritoneal drain make any difference? A pilot prospective randomised controlled trial

Randomized trial of 34 children undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis found no significant difference in complication rates between patients with and without peritoneal drains (18% vs 35%, p>0.05). Extent of intra-abdominal contamination appeared more predictive of complications than drain placement.