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Could post-thyroidectomy bleeding be the clue to modify the concept of postoperative drainage? A prospective
Ali S Al-Qahtani1, Tarek Abouzeid Osman2
1Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Assir Central and Abha Private Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Routine surgical drains do not significantly prevent bleeding after thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disorders but do prolong hospital stays. This suggests a more selective approach to drain use is warranted.
Area of Science:
- Endocrine Surgery
- Surgical Outcomes Research
Background:
- Thyroidectomy is a common procedure for benign thyroid disorders.
- The routine use of surgical drains after thyroidectomy is a debated practice.
- Evidence is needed to clarify the benefits and drawbacks of drains in this context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the actual impact of surgical drains on thyroidectomy outcomes.
- To compare complication rates and length of stay between drained and undrained thyroidectomy patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective randomized study involving 108 patients with benign thyroid disorders undergoing elective thyroidectomy.
- Patients were randomly assigned to either a drainage group or a non-drainage group.
- Key outcomes including postoperative complications and length of hospital stay were meticulously recorded and analyzed.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in hematoma or seroma formation was observed between the groups.
- The mean length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the group that had surgical drains (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Routine surgical drainage offers no significant advantage in preventing bleeding after thyroidectomy for benign conditions.
- The use of surgical drains prolongs hospitalization, supporting a shift towards selective drain use in specific patient populations.
Background/Objective:
To unveil the real effect of surgical drains on the outcomes of thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disorders.
Methods:
A prospective randomized study was conducted at Abha Private Hospital, Saudi Arabia on 108 patients suffered from benign thyroid disorders undergoing elective thyroidectomy from 1 August 2015 to 28 February 2017. Patients were allocated randomly into drainage group (A) and non-drainage group (B). The demographic data, operation (type and duration), postoperative complications, histopathological results and length of stay were assessed, documented and statistically verified to check its significance.
Results:
A total of 108 patients were enrolled in the study; 94 females and 14 males with mean age of 38.02 years, two patients developed hematoma (1.85%); one in each group and another two patients had seroma with no significant difference between both groups, the mean length of stay was significantly higher in group (A) (p = 0.001).
Conclusion:
This prospective study verified that routine drainage adds no significant advantage in the prevention of post-thyroidectomy bleeding, but it prolongs hospitalization. This aids in changing the concept from the "wide" use of drains into the "wise" use in selected patients with risk factors of bleeding.
