Impact of Drains on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Thyroid Surgery

Randomized Controlled Trial on the Impact of Postoperative Drainage on Nausea and Vomiting After Thyroid- and Parathyroid Surgery

Wound Drains after Thyroid- and Parathyroid Surgery Impact on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is common after thyroid surgery. Many patients describe PONV as more irritant in the postoperative course than the endured pain. Postoperative drains are put after thyroid surgery to early recognize bleeding and to collect wound secretion to avoid pressure on the trachea. Whether wound drains do impact on PONV is not known. Therefore, we tested the impact of wound drains on PONV after thyroid- and parathyroid surgery in a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Inclusion Criteria:

• older than 18 years of age
• informed consent
• planed thyroid- or parathyroid resection
• euthyreostatic preoperative condition

Exclusion Criteria:

• younger than 18 years of age
• pregnancy
• no informed consent
• retrosternal struma
• known postoperative nausea and vomiting prior to surgery
• severe and life threatening systemic health issues