Thyroidectomy with and without drains: a clinical comparative study

Authors

  • Shaileshkumar M. Emmi Department of Surgery, SN Medical College and HSK Hospital, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India
  • M. Amarnath Reddy Department of Surgery, SN Medical College and HSK Hospital, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-2902.isj20191874

Keywords:

Haematoma, Suction drains, Thyroidectomy

Abstract

Background: Thyroid surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures by a general surgeon, and almost every surgeon tends to use closed suction drain at the end of surgery, with an intention of preventing the most dangerous complication i.e., suffocating haematoma, which may be not necessary as suggested by many studies. The objective of the study was to assess the benefit of drain use after thyroidectomy by determining; length of hospital stay, post operative pain and wound sepsis.

Methods: This prospective clinical comparative study was undertaken at tertiary care teaching Hospital, for duration of one year from September 2017 to August 2018.

Results: A total of 44 patients were evaluated. There were 29 females (65.90%) and 15 males (34.09%). The mean age for the drain group was 35.45 years and 33.79 years for the no drain group. Most participants were female. Mean duration of hospital stay after thyroidectomy was significantly higher among the drain arm as compared with the no drain arm. Seven patients developed complications in the drain group and one developed complication in the no drain group. The mean hospital stay of the drain group was 3.15 days which in the no drain group was 2.51 days.

Conclusions: Thyroidectomy without drains causes less discomfort, early discharge, hence has lesser expenses, without increasing the risk of post operative including haemorrhage and hematoma formation. Meticulous haemostasis and an adequate surgical technique are the keys for avoiding haemorrhage and hematoma formation.

Author Biography

Shaileshkumar M. Emmi, Department of Surgery, SN Medical College and HSK Hospital, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India

general surgery

References

Prichard RS, Murphy R, Lowry A, McLaughlin R, Malone C, Kerin MJ. The routine use of post-operative drains in thyroid surgery: an outdated concept. Ir Med J. 2010;103:26-7.

Khanna J, Mohil RS, Chintamani, Bhatnagar D, Mittal MK, Sahoo M, et al. Is the routine drainageafter surgery for thyroid necessary? A prospective randomized clinical study [ISRCTN63623153]. BMC Surg. 2005;19;5:11.

Neary PM, Connor OJ, Shafiq A, Quinn EM, Kelly JJ, Juliette B, et al. The impact of routineopen nonsuction drainage on fluid accumulation after thyroid surgery: a prospective randomisedclinical trial. World J Surg Oncol. 2012;28;10:72.

Lewis RT, Goodall RG, Marien B, Park M, Llyod-Smith W, Weigand FM. Simple elective cholecystectomy: to drain or not. Am J Surg. 1990; 159(2):241-5.

Lee SW, Choi EC, Lee YM, Lee JY, Kim SC, Koh YW. Is lack of placement of drains after thyroidectomy with central neck dissection safe? A prospective, randomized study. Laryngoscope. 2006;116(9):1632-5.

Deveci U, Altintoprak F, Sertan Kapakli M, Manukyan MN, Cubuk R, Yener N, et al. Is the use ofa drain for thyroid surgery realistic? A prospective randomized interventional study. J Thyroid Res. 2013;2013:285768.

Kalemera Ssenyondo E, Fualal J, Jombwe J, Galukande M. To drain or not to drain after thyroidsurgery: a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary Hospital in East Africa. Afr Health Sci. 2013;13:748-55.

Hurtado-Lopez LM, Lopez-Romero S, Rizzo-Fuentes C, Zaldivar-Ramirez FR, Cervantes-Sanchez C. Selective use of drains in thyroid surgery. Head Neck. 2001;23:189-93.

Suslu N, Vural S, Oncel M, Demirca B, Gezen FC, Tuzun B, et al. Is the insertion of drains after uncomplicated thyroid surgery always necessary? Surg Today. 2006;36:215-18..

Dunlap WW, Berg RL, Urquhart AC. Thyroid drains and postoperative drainage. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010;143:235-8.

Hurtado-Lopez LM, Lopez-Romero S, Rizzo-Fuentes C, Zaldivar-Ramirez FR, Cervantes-Sanchez C. Selective use of drains in thyroid surgery. Head Neck. 2001;23:189-93.

Woods RS, Woods JF, Duignan ES, Timon C. Systematic review and meta-analysis of wound drains after thyroid surgery. Br J Surg. 2014;101:446-56.

Hurtado-Lopez LM, Lopez-Romero S, Rizzo-Fuentes C, Zaldivar-Ramirez FR, Cervantes-Sanchez C. Selective use of drains in thyroid surgery. Head Neck. 2001;23:189-93.

Downloads

Published

2019-04-29

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles