Is the Routine Pressure Dressing After Thyroidectomy Necessary?

Overview

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.

Conditions