Drainage after thyroid surgery: a prospective randomized study.
Between November, 1996 and May, 1997 a series of 100 consecutive unselected patients undergoing all types of thyroid surgery--including even those inducing large dead space e.g. substernal goitre and carcinoma thyroid with recurrent nerve dissection--were randomly allotted to either receive drainage (n = 43) or not (n = 57). Patients with cervical dissection for lymph node metastasis were not included. Severe intra-operative haemorrhage was not a reason for exclusion. No complications such as haematoma or seroma were found in the undrained group whereas only minor complications such as haematoma (n = 4) were noted in the drained group. Whatever the group, none of the patients required re-exploration. The difference in overall hospital stay (1.72 days in the group of undrained patients versus 2.09 days in the drained group) was not statistically significant.
Debry
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C
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Leon Toulhadjian Hospital, Poissy, France.
Renou
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G
Fingerhut
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A
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy