[Drainage in thyroid and parathyroid surgery].

OBJECTIVE

The use of suction drains in thyroid and parathyroid surgery is common practice in order to avoid haematoma or seroma, as well as to identify promptly the onset of haemorrhaging that might compromise the patient's airway. The goal of this study is to evaluate the experience on 79 thyroid and parathyroid procedures, in 50 % of which a drain was used.

RESULTS

No differences were found in terms of the presence of infections, seromas, or haemorrhage. Post-operative haemorrhage was found in 2.3 % of cases, haematoma in 2.5 %, and seroma in 1.2 %. The mean hospital stay was longer in patients with drains, 1.8 days, than in patients without, 1.2 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Meticulous haemostasis and adequate surgical technique are the key for avoiding haemorrhage and haematoma formation. Extensive dead space, intrathoracic or retrosternal goiters, and excessive tissue manipulation are our indications for suction drain placement.