Role of Postoperative Antibiotics in Patients Undergoing Type I Thyroplasty with Gore-Tex Implant

The purpose of this study was to determine the need for postoperative antibiotic administration in patients undergoing type I thyroplasty performed with Gore-Tex implant.

Retrospective analysis.

Medical records of patients from a quaternary care laryngology practice who underwent type I thyroplasty for glottic insufficiency using Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore, Newark, Delaware) implant between the years 2013 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Subjects were divided into two groups determined by those who did or did not receive routine postoperative antibiotics. All patients received two grams of cefazolin IV (for the standard 70-kilogram patient), and 10 mg of dexamethasone as a one-time dose given 10 minutes prior to incision. Patients allergic to cefazoline who received a single preoperative dose of 600 mg of clindamycin IV. All subjects were seen in the office at least three times after the procedure: one day, one week, and approximately six weeks following surgery. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data using χ² analysis for categorical data and a student t test for means. A P value of less than 0.01 was considered significant.

There was no significant difference in infection rate or other complications between groups.

Routine use of antibiotics following type I thyroplasty with Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore, Newark, Delaware) appears unnecessary.