Drains in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Are they necessary?
To assess the postoperative complications in patients who underwent elective thyroid or parathyroid surgery without postoperative drainage. During a 6-year period all patients who met study criteria were prospectively evaluated. General community and tertiary referral center. Fifty-seven patients un...
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Published in | Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery Vol. 121; no. 9; p. 981 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
01.09.1995
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get more information |
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Summary: | To assess the postoperative complications in patients who underwent elective thyroid or parathyroid surgery without postoperative drainage.
During a 6-year period all patients who met study criteria were prospectively evaluated.
General community and tertiary referral center.
Fifty-seven patients undergoing thyroid surgery and eight patients undergoing parathyroid surgery were evaluated. Twenty-four patients were excluded because drains were placed postoperatively. Reasons for exclusion included presence of a large dead space, substernal goiter, extensive neck dissection for malignant neoplasm, and large goiters.
Major complications consisted of a hematoma requiring reexploration in one patient, and a recurrent nerve palsy in one patient. Minor complications consisted of temporary hypocalcemia (three), seroma (one), and superior flap edema that resolved in 3 months (20).
Routine prophylactic drainage in a select patient population is unnecessary after uncomplicated thyroid or parathyroid surgery. |
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ISSN: | 0886-4470 |
DOI: | 10.1001/archotol.1995.01890090025004 |