Gastric cancer is one of the most common neoplasms in the world. Surgery is the only effective method of treatment of such a neoplasm. A total or subtotal gastrectomy accompanied by a dissection of the D2 lymph nodes is one of the most technically difficult surgical procedures in oncological surgery.
Nowadays in the majority of departments a total or subtotal gastrectomy to treat a neoplasm is performed as open surgery. Also, in most departments it is routine to place a drain or drains in the peritoneal cavity after such surgical procedures so that early complications can be diagnosed.
The following article is a review of current knowledge and research concerning routine drainage of the peritoneal cavity after radical surgical procedures due to gastric cancer.