I did not realize they use them for laparoscopic surgery as well, but it makes sense. There is still a trauma to your abdomen due to the colon being cut out of your body. All of the same conditions exist that would precipitate the fluid buildup.
I remember being startled by the pain when they took it out. You don't expect it to hurt as much as it does, even though the removal is fairly quick. I seem to remember having 3 of those closed suction drains. They called them J Tubes, or something like that.