Is it Necessary to use Drain after Thyroid Surgeries? A Prospective Randomised Clinical Trial

• Main Authors: Asgari Abaszadeh, Mohammad Zamani, Askari Noorbaran, Sekineh Kamali Ahangar, Mohammad Reza Sheikh Ansari, Novin Nikbakhsh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2017-12-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
• Subjects: complications; hematoma; seroma; thyroidectomy
• Online Access: https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/10965/29864_CE(_)_F(AK)_PF1_(BT_PB_SG_VG)_PFA(MJ_AP).pdf

Introduction: In the past, drains were used in thyroid surgeries due to the fear from hematoma and airway obstruction. However, the utilization of this technique is not generally accepted nowadays and some surgeons prefer not to use it. Aim: To investigate the advantages and disadvantages of drain application in thyroidectomy. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 180 patients undergoing thyroidectomy surgery between January 2013 to March 2015, were randomly assigned into two groups of with and without drain by random allocation. The patients were visited in the first, third and 30th day after the surgery and were examined for post-operative complications, such as hematoma, seroma, infection, transient hypocalcaemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. The demographic information and informed consent were collected from all subjects. Data were analysed using chi-square and t-test tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: None of the patients in both groups showed hematoma, seroma, infection or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Sixteen patients 17.7 (45.7%) in the no-drain group and 19 patients 21.1 (54.3%) in the drain group had transient hypocalcaemia on the first day, but the difference was not significant. Duration of the surgery in the group without drain (131.94±38.85 min) was significantly less than in the group with drain (147.22±39.31 min) (p=0.009). The duration of hospitalisation in the no-drain group (2.18±0.08 days) was less than the group with drain (2.36±0.67 days), but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that lack of use of drains was not associated with any complications, but also could reduce the patients’ discomfort. Therefore, drain use after thyroidectomy seems not to be necessary, at least in patients.