Thyroidectomy with and without drainage

Abstract EN

Objectives : Drainage after thyroid surgery has been widely used to prevent life threatening complication.

However, it is well known that drains do not always prevent hematoma formation.

Patients and Methods : In this prospective study, we reviewed our experience with 477 thyroidectomies with and without drains in order to assess this issue.

Between 1993 and 1998, 203 patients were closed with drains and 274 patients without drains after thyroid surgery.

Results : Reoperation for bleeding was necessary in three patients from group A and two patients in group B (P = 0.65).

Minor hematoma occurred in six patients from group A and four patients in group B, wound infection occurred in 8 and two patients in group A and B, respectively, and lymphatic drainage occurred in two patients from group A.

These differences were not statistically different.

Conclusion : The present study failed to demonstrate any protective value for the usage of drains.

However, the hospital stays in group B (the non-drain group) is significantly less than group A (P value < 0.001).

This study suggests that routine drainage after thyroid surgery is not necessary