Tisseel and its effects on wound drainage post-thyroidectomy: prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
This randomized, blinded, controlled study examines the effects of fibrin sealant (Tisseel, Laboratoire de production Baxter AG, Vienna, Austria) on wound drainage following thyroidectomy.


METHODS
Fifty-six consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized into Tisseel and non-Tisseel treatment groups. Wound drain output was tallied in 8-hour increments by observers blinded to the treatment groups.


RESULTS
Fifty-six patients completed the study. Significant decreases in wound drainage were found in the first 8 hours in the Tisseel group. Eight hours postoperatively, wound output in the Tisseel group was reduced by 44% compared with the non-Tisseel group. A significant decrease in the total drainage over the 64-hour time period of 43% was noted between the treatment and control groups. Post-thyroidectomy wound drainage was reduced and trended to earlier drain removal. No significant changes in the length of hospital stay were noted, nor were postoperative complications encountered in either treatment group.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibrin sealants offer a unique opportunity to safely decrease post-thyroidectomy wound drainage. This investigation furthers the evidence that fibrin sealants could safely enable the implementation of drain-free thyroidectomies.
Uwiera
Trina C
TC
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Uwiera
Richard R E
RR
Seikaly
Hadi
H
Harris
Jeffery R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006490:Hemostatics