Anyone who has had thyroid removed.....?

[Inaquandary]

Anyone who has had thyroid removed, either full or partial, did you have a drain in afterwards? I am asking on behalf of a friend who has had a partial and no drains in afterwards, was rushed to A and E yesterday for emergency surgery due to infection, she had no drain after the original surgery last week. Anyone else heard of this?

[Angie090465]

oh no!! sorry to hear this Lindsay, i had a partial thyroid surgery and had a drain .. i hope she is ok and recovers quickly, sorry am not much help, hopefully someone will respond i hope you are well, best wishes for your friend xx

[Hennerton]

I had total thyroidectomy and no drain at all. Recovery was fine.

[cjrsquared]

It depends on the surgeon and also blood loss during surgery. Some thyroids are contained and easier to remove than others, which might have large goitres which have there own blood supply, hence trickier to remove and more prone to seepage. It is a judgement call by the surgeon during each op.

[Clutter]

Lindsaydawson6-3,

I had a drain after hemilobectomy and after completion thyroidectomy. I was told it was to reduce swelling and bruising and that if there wasn't a certain amount of fluid in the drain I would not be discharged and would be kept for observation.

[tcpace]

My wife had a partial removal - no drain, no subsequent problems due to the surgery.

[lempa_nik]

In 2010, I had a full thyroidectomy. No drain and no problems.