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Five-years' experience with outpatient thyroglossal duct cyst surgery
Ana Coelho1, Catarina Sousa1, Ana Sofia Marinho1
1Pediatric Surgery Department, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE, Portugal; Centro Materno Infantil do Norte, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE, Largo Maternidade Júlio Dinis, 4050-371 Porto, Portugal.
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|April 10, 2017
Summary
The Sistrunk procedure for thyroglossal duct cysts is safe and feasible in an outpatient setting without drain placement. This approach minimizes complications and supports day surgery for pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) surgery, specifically the Sistrunk procedure, often involves surgeon apprehension regarding drain use and outpatient management.
- Previous practices may have favored drain placement and inpatient observation, potentially increasing healthcare costs and patient inconvenience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and feasibility of performing the Sistrunk procedure without intraoperative drain placement in an outpatient setting.
- To review the pediatric surgery department's experience with TDC management.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 36 pediatric patients who underwent the Sistrunk procedure between January 2011 and December 2015.
- Analysis of patient demographics, surgical approach (outpatient vs. overnight stay), drain usage, and postoperative outcomes.
Main Results:
- No drains were used intraoperatively in any of the 36 patients.
- Sixteen patients were discharged on the same day, while 20 stayed overnight primarily due to travel distance.
- A single readmission occurred for cervical edema, resolving with conservative treatment. Local wound infection (8.5%) and hematoma (2.9%) were the main short-term complications, none requiring surgical intervention.
Conclusions:
- The Sistrunk procedure can be safely performed in an outpatient setting without the need for drain placement.
- This approach is a feasible and safe option for managing pediatric thyroglossal duct cysts, potentially reducing hospital stays and associated costs.