Resultados. La mediana de años de ejercicio de los cirujanos que respondieron fue de 17.
El 7% de los cirujanos no utilizan nunca la descompresión gástrica, el 62% la utiliza rutinariamente y el 31% selectivamente. La mayoría de los cirujanos utiliza la descompresión gástrica porque piensan que reduce las náuseas y los vómitos. En cuanto al drenaje, el 12% no lo usa nunca, el 25% rutinariamente y el 63% lo utiliza selectivamente argumentando en estos casos que dan tranquilidad al cirujano y reducen las colecciones poscirugía.
Conclusiones. Pese a existir una tendencia en la reducción del empleo de descompresión gástrica y drenajes en cirugía colorrectal, los cirujanos españoles continúan empleándolos rutinariamente en un elevado porcentaje de casos.
Patients and methods. The study was based on 190 anonymous surveys completed by staff surgeons from hospitals throughout the entire health care system who responded to 45 questions concerned with their own experiences.
Results. The mean length of time that the responding surgeons had been professionally active was 17 years.
Seven percent of the responders never used gastric decompression, 62% of them employed it routinely and 31%, selectively. Most surgeons used it because they consider that it reduces the incidence of nausea and vomiting. With respect to drainage, 12% of the responders never used it, 25% used it routinely and 63%, selectively. The reasons they give for employing drainage is that it eases the concerns of the surgeon and reduces postoperative fluid collection.
Conclusions.. Despite a tendency to reduce the use of gastric decompression and drainage in colorectal surgery, Spanish surgeons continue to employ them routinelly in a large percentage of cases.