Drainage after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the necessity of drainage after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders.


METHODS
A total of 116 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders were randomly allocated to be drained or not. Operative and postoperative outcomes including operating time, postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), total amount of intramuscular analgesic administration, hospital stay, complications, necessity for re-operation and satisfaction of patients were all assessed.


RESULTS
The mean operating time was similar between two groups (the drained and non-drained groups). The mean VAS score was found to be significantly low in the non-drained group patients in postoperative day (POD) 0 and POD 1. The mean amount of intramuscular analgesic requirement was significantly less in the non-drained group. One case of hematoma, two cases of seroma and three cases of transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in the non-drained group, whereas one case of hematoma, two cases of seroma, two cases of wound infections and two cases of transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in the drained group. No patient needed re-operation for any complication. The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter and the satisfaction of patients was superior in the non-drained group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that postoperative complications cannot be prevented by using drains after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroid disorders. Furthermore, the use of drains may increase postoperative pain and the analgesic requirement, and prolong the hospital stay. In the light of these findings, the routine use of drains might not be necessary after thyroid surgery for benign disorders.
Colak
Tahsin
T
Department of General Surgery, Medical Faculty of Mersin University, 33079 Mersin, Turkey. tcolak@mersin.edu.tr
Akca
Tamer
T
Turkmenoglu
Ozgur
O
Canbaz
Hakan
H
Ustunsoy
Bora
B
Kanik
Arzu
A
Aydin
Suha
S
D000328:Adult; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000517:prevention & control; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome