ABSTRACT

Routine use of drains may be the source of infection and tissue damage such as recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. In this study, we aimed to investigate thyroidectomy cases without drain usage retrospectively. Without use of drain thyroidectomy patients undergoing primary benign and malignant diseases are included in the study between November 2007 and January 2012 at Gumussuyu Military Hospital. Second time for any reason, or neck dissection in patients undergoing thyroidectomy surgery were excluded. Patients were mostly woman 32(61.5%), mean age was 34.6 ± 4.3 (23-72) years, discharged postoperatively day first (71%) and second day (39%) respectively, diagnoses were multinodular goiter (n=35), soliter nodul (n=17) and papillary thyroid cancer (n=1). Patients underwent lobectomy (n = 17), near-total thyroidectomy (n = 23) and total thyroidectomy (n = 12). Postoperative seroma were occurred in 2 patients and spontaneously regressed. Wound infection was occurred in a patient. Temporary hypoparathyroidism was occurred in 2 patients. Major complication (hematoma or laryngeal nerve injury) was not occurred. In conclusion, since there are low complication rates in these patients and it is well tolerated and shorted hospital stay in cases which well provided bleeding control; routine drain usage is not necessary.

Keywords: Drain, thyroidectomy, complication