THYROIDECTOMY WITH AND WITHOUT DRAINS

Drainage after thyroid surgery has been widely used to prevent life-th reatening complications. However, it is well known that drains do not always prevent haematoma formation, In this retrospective study, we re viewed our experience with 1057 thyroidectomies with and without drain s in order to assess this issue, Between 1983 and 1993, 520 patients w ere closed with drains and 537 patients without drains after thyroid s urgery, The indications for drainage of the selective period included wet operative field and large areas of dead space at the conclusion of the operation, Reoperation for bleeding was done in twelve patients i n the drainage group and two patients in the non-drainage group (p<0.0 5), Wound infection was seen in seven patients in the drainage group a nd none in the no-drainage group (p<0.05). This study suggests that ro utine drainage after thyroid surgery is not necessary and a selective policy can be applied safely.