ABSTRACT
To evaluate the role of surgical drains in near total thyroidectomy. It was a Randomized clinical trial conducted at department of surgery, DHQ teaching Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan from Jun 2012 to May 2013. Patients were randomized into two groups by lottery method. Group A were those in which drains were placed and Group B patient were operated and no drains were placed. Inclusion criteria included all patients presenting for near total thyroidectomy for benign diseases. Those with massive goiters or nodules larger than 6 cm were excluded. 40patients were enrolled in the study. Complications, length of hospital stay, and overall cost were evaluated. In the Group B [no drain group], there was 03 days mean hospital stay with no increase in postoperative complications like swelling. While Group A [drain group] mean hospital stay was 06 days. Thyroid surgery without the use of a drain decreases the length of hospital stay, with no increase in patient morbidity. The overall cost is significantly reduced