Drains in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Are they necessary?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the postoperative complications in patients who underwent elective thyroid or parathyroid surgery without postoperative drainage.


METHODS
During a 6-year period all patients who met study criteria were prospectively evaluated.


METHODS
General community and tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Fifty-seven patients undergoing thyroid surgery and eight patients undergoing parathyroid surgery were evaluated. Twenty-four patients were excluded because drains were placed postoperatively. Reasons for exclusion included presence of a large dead space, substernal goiter, extensive neck dissection for malignant neoplasm, and large goiters.


RESULTS
Major complications consisted of a hematoma requiring reexploration in one patient, and a recurrent nerve palsy in one patient. Minor complications consisted of temporary hypocalcemia (three), seroma (one), and superior flap edema that resolved in 3 months (20).


CONCLUSIONS
Routine prophylactic drainage in a select patient population is unnecessary after uncomplicated thyroid or parathyroid surgery.
Wax
M K
MK
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA.
Valiulis
A P
AP
Hurst
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010279:Parathyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome