Association Between Cervical Drainage and Early Post-Thyroidectomy Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Endocrine Surgery
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Traditional use of cervical drains post-thyroidectomy aimed to prevent fluid collection and bleeding.
• Advancements in surgical techniques and care pathways prompt re-evaluation of routine drain use, especially for short-stay and outpatient procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the association between postoperative cervical drainage and outcomes following thyroidectomy.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2005-2026).
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials and non-randomized comparative studies on adult thyroidectomy patients.
• Meta-analysis of outcomes including cervical hematoma, surgical site infection (SSI), seroma, bleeding, reoperation, and length of hospital stay.

Main Results:

• Thirty studies (2810 patients) were analyzed.
• Cervical drainage showed no significant association with reduced cervical hematoma, seroma, postoperative bleeding, or reoperation.
• Drain use was linked to a significantly higher risk of surgical site infection (SSI) and a longer hospital stay (1.96 days).

Conclusions:

• Routine cervical drainage after thyroidectomy does not offer benefits in preventing bleeding complications.
• Drainage is associated with adverse outcomes, including increased SSI risk and prolonged hospitalization.
• Findings suggest that routine cervical drainage may not be advantageous and could lead to less favorable recovery.