Drain verus No Drain After Thyroidectomy: A Preliminary Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate the necessity of placing a drain in post-thyroidectomy patients, we aimed to determine whether insertion of a passive drain, as compared to no drain, in post-thyroidectomy patients, would significantly affect hematoma formation, wound infection, wound dehiscence and length of hospital stay. Methods: Study Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial Setting: Tertiary government training hospital Subjects: Patients who underwent thyroidectomy for various thyroid pathologies were divided into two postoperative treatment arms: one group with insertion of a passive drain, and another group without a drain. Hematoma, wound infection, wound dehiscence, and length of hospital stay were the outcomes measured per treatment arm.   Results: A total of 66 patients were evaluated. There were 54 females (81.81%) and 12 males (18.18%). The mean age for the drain group was 44.88 years and 43.67 years for the no drain group. Four patients developed complications in the drain group and 2 developed complications in the no drain group. The rate of complications between both groups was not statistically significant.  The mean hospital stay of the drain group was 3.15 days, which in the no drain group was 2.51 days. The difference in length of hospital stay was statistically significant.   Conclusion:   There was no difference in the development of complications among the drain and no drain group. Thyroidectomy without surgical drains was associated with a significant reduction in hospital stay compared to thyroidectomy with routine placement of drains.   Keywords: Surgical drainage / methods, hematoma / prevention and control, postoperative complications / prevention and control, thyroid disease / surgery, thyroidectomy / methods