Is suction drainage an effective means of preventing hematoma in thyroid surgery? A meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of suction drainage in preventing postoperative hematoma formation in thyroid surgery.


METHODS
We conducted a meta-analysis using only randomized controlled trials in which the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hematoma was compared directly in patients with and without suction drains (eight studies since 1980; N = 944). The odds ratio (OR) with respective confidence intervals (CIs) using the fixed effects model was reported. We used an OR < 1.0 as being in favour of treatment (ie, the use of suction drains).


RESULTS
In our meta-analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between the rates of post-thyroidectomy hematoma whether or not suction drains were used when the results were combined using a fixed effects model (OR 1.04, 95% CI-1.93), with p = .90. In this comparison, a fixed effects model was used rather than a random effects model because there was no statistically significant heterogeneity (chi2 = 6.26, p = .28).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the use of suction drains in thyroid surgery to prevent postoperative hematoma is not evidence based.
Corsten
Martin
M
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Ottawa, Ontario. mjcorsten@yahoo.ca
Johnson
Stephanie
S
Alherabi
Ameen
A
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*; D013965:Thyroidectomy