Objective: This study aims to compare post-operative outcomes between drain and no-drain approaches following thyroidectomy for goiter in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Study Design: Retrospective analysis
Settings: King Fahd Central Hospital and Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital, Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia
Subjects and Methods: We included adult patients (18–79 years) diagnosed with goiter who underwent thyroidectomy between January 2018 and January 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups based on drain placement (drain vs. no drain). We conducted univariate and bivariate analyses to assess the relationship between drain placement and hospital stay, along with other factors
Results: No significant differences were observed in surgical complications or procedure type between the drained and non-drained groups. However, patients with drains experienced significantly longer hospital stays (p = 0.00).
Conclusion: Routine drain placement after thyroidectomy may be unnecessary and could prolong hospitalization without demonstrably improving patient outcomes. Further research is crucial to establish clear guidelines on drain usage in thyroidectomy.