ObjectiveTo investigate the effcacy of subcutaneous placement of negative pressure drainage tube in the prevention of incision fat liquefaction in obese patients after abdominal surgery. MethodsThe wound healing situation in 84 obese patients who underwent abdominal surgery in our department from January 2013 to May 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into tube placement group (n=39) and control group (n=45). Patients in the tube placement group accepted negative pressure drainage tube placement, while those in the control group underwent routine suturing of the incision without negative pressure drainage tube. The incision healing grade and fat liquefaction rate of the two groups of patients were compared and analyzed. ResultsThere was no significant diTherence in grade-A and –B healing rate and fat liquefaction rate between the two groups (P>0.05), but grade-C healing rate and the second-stage suturing rate in the tube placement group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant diTherence in grade-C healing rate between the two groups for type-Ⅱ incisions (P>0.05), while the grade-C healing rat of patients with type-Ⅲ incisions was significantly lower in the tube placement group than that in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionNegative pressure drainage tube can decrease grade-C healing rate and second-stage suturing rate as well as grade-C healing rate of type-Ⅲ incisions in obese patients after abdominal surgery.