DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2022.v10i12.073

Pages: 2512-2516

Background: Thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of the thyroid gland, is a common intervention for various thyroid disorders. Negative suction drainage tubes are conventionally employed in thyroid surgeries to prevent complications, although their usage often results in postoperative discomfort, pain, delayed recovery, prolonged hospitalization, and aesthetic concerns. Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of thyroidectomy without the use of drainage tubes in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Otolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery departments of Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka Cantonment, and Azmol and Life Aid General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study took place between September 2015 and May 2017 and included 60 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or hemithyroidectomy for thyroid disorders without drainage tubes. Purposive sampling was employed for participant selection, and data analysis was carried out using MS Office and SPSS version 20.0. Results: In our study, 83.34% had hemi-thyroidectomy and 16.66% total thyroidectomy. Brief hospital stays, high comfort, and discharge by the 3rd day were noted. Positive mobility: 40 of 60 walked in 14 hours. Mild post-operative pain (VAS), 3 patients scored 7; 2 reported 5 after 24 hours, requiring extra pain relief. Notably, 2 patients had 40ml blood, 1 had 50ml seroma; the majority (57) had <15ml blood/seroma. Conclusion: Omitting drain tubes in thyroid surgery reduces hospital stays, patient discomfort, and complications, indicating that their use doesn't enhance outcomes. So, thyroidectomy can be safely performed without the routine employment of drainage tubes.