Drainless thyroid surgeries including goiter or central neck dissection: a case-control study.

Abstract

Despite ample of evidence regarding feasibility of simple drainless thyroid surgeries, the evidence of feasibility of such procedures in goiters and central neck dissections remains limited. Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) between January 2017 and July 2022 were included. The study included two study groups: drainless TT with central neck dissection (CND) and drainless TT due to goiter, which were compared to two controls: non-goiter drainless TT and drained TT for goiter or with CND. Main outcome was post-operative seroma rate. 156 patients met the inclusion criteria for each of the group. No significant differences between groups were found for permanent hypocalcemia, and other complications. Post-operative seroma was found in nine patients (5.8%), all from study groups. No significant differences between groups were found for local infections, aspirations, post-discharge drain insertion. Complex drainless thyroid surgeries, including goiter and CND, are feasible and do not seem to significantly increase rate of post-operative seromas or infections.