Discussion
bleeding, postoperative pain, thyroid disease, pain, seroma, hematoma
BLEEDING, SCAR, THYROID DISEASE, WOUND INFECTION, COMPLICATION, SITE INFECTION, SEROMA, NECK HEMATOMA, SCARRING, HEMATOMA, COMPLICATIONS
The practise of general surgery has thyroid surgery at its core. Although the customary use of drains following thyroidectomy has been the subject of ongoing dispute, most surgical departments worldwide have a uniform practise of draining the thyroid bed following thyroidectomy. According to prevailing theory, suction drainage limits the build-up of lymphatic and bleeding secretions, decreasing the possibility of neck hematomas and surgical site infections.The study’s results demonstrated that the duration of hospitalization, 24 hours (hrs) post-operative pain, and post-operative wound cosmesis were significantly higher in the drain group compared to the non-drain group. In our research, we discovered that post-operative pain was more common in the drain group, which we hypothesise may be related to the aggravating aspect of having a drain installed. Although the duration of surgery, 72 hrs post-operative pain, post-operative complications of hematoma, seroma and wound infection were higher in the drain group, they did not vary significantly. A key parameter that we have assessed in our study is the cosmetic outcome following surgery. In the present era of minimally invasive and scarless surgery, every surgical wound counts particularly in thyroid disease that predominantly affects females. Drain placement attributes to an additional scar on the exposed part of the neck.The complication rate following thyroid surgery is very surgeon specific. A meticulously operated thyroid with thorough attention to hemostasis ensures a virtually complication free post operative outcome. A drain does not serve as a proxy for these factors. Sosa et alThe results of our study corroborates with one carried out by Emmi and Reddy- Comparison of Post-operative wound scarring using the Hollander Wound Evaluation Scale among patients with and without post-operative drains following total thyroidectomyPortinari and CarcoforOur study did not reveal any significant benefits in placing drains following thyroid surgery. The hospital stay and postoperative pain was significantly lower for patients without drains. The cosmetic outcome was improved and the patients registered a greater satisfaction level without drain placement.