Is the Routine Pressure Dressing After Thyroidectomy Necessary?

Is the Routine Pressure Dressing After Thyroidectomy Necessary? A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Thyroidectomy is an operation that is commonly performed. After an operation a pressure dressing by Hypafix is usually used due to the belief that it will help to reduce complications such as post-operative bleeding or haematoma. However, the practice is uncomfortable to patients and makes it hard to detect early haematomas.

We carried out a prospective randomised study to study the role of pressure dressing after thyroid surgery by evaluating the amount of fluids collected in the operative bed by ultrasonography compared with normal dressing.

Thyroidectomy is an operation that is commonly performed. In Department of Otolaryngology, Khonkaen University was performed this operation about 200 cases per years. After an operation a pressure dressing by Hypafix is usually used due to the belief that it will help to reduce complications such as post-operative bleeding or haematoma. However, the practice is uncomfortable to patients and makes it hard to detect early haematomas.

We carried out a prospective randomised study to study the role of pressure dressing after thyroid surgery by evaluating the amount of fluids collected in the operative bed by ultrasonography compared with normal dressing.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients underwent thyroidectomy in Srinagarind hospital, Khonkaen University

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with cervical lymph nodes metastases requiring neck dissection
• Patients that tissue pathology shown anaplastic carcinoma
• Patients with clinical or laboratory indicators of coagulation disorders