University of Alberta, Edmonton;
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Objective: To evaluate the use of surgical drains in thyroid surgery.
Design: Randomized, prospective, clinical trial, with cost analysis.
Setting: Tertiary-care referral center.
Patients: Fifty-five patients were enrolled in the study. They were randomized by a blinded observer into drain and no-drain groups. Inclusion criteria included all patients presenting for total thyroidectomy, hemithyroidectomy, or completion thyroidectomy. Those with massive goiters or nodules larger than 6 cm were excluded.