BACKGROUND: Despite ample of evidence regarding feasibility of simple drainless thyroid surgeries, the evidence of feasibility of such procedures in goiters and central neck dissections remains limited.
METHODS: Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) between January 2017 and July 2022 were included. The study included two study groups: drainless TT with central neck dissection (CND) and drainless TT due to goiter, which were compared to two controls: non-goiter drainless TT and drained TT for goiter or with CND. Main outcome was post-operative seroma rate.
RESULTS: 156 patients met the inclusion criteria for each of the group. No significant differences between groups were found for permanent hypocalcemia, and other complications. Post-operative seroma was found in nine patients (5.8%), all from study groups. No significant differences between groups were found for local infections, aspirations, post-discharge drain insertion.
CONCLUSIONS: Complex drainless thyroid surgeries, including goiter and CND, are feasible and do not seem to significantly increase rate of post-operative seromas or infections.

Drain site eviscerations have been reported as a rare complication following abdominal surgery. An 82-year-old women was diagnosed with carcinoma stomach and underwent laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy. A few hours following removal of the duodenal stump drain, she developed small bowel evisceration through the drain site. It was successfully managed with immediate bedside release of fascial constriction followed by definitive repair later. Although herniations and eviscerations via larger drain sites have been reported, eviscerations from small laparoscopic port sites used for drains are rare. Here, we report the first case of small bowel evisceration with strangulation through a 5-mm port site.

UNASSIGNED: A retrospective case-control study.
UNASSIGNED: The usefulness of a drain in spinal surgery has always been controversial. The purposes of this study were to determine the incidence of hematoma-related complications after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) without a drain and to evaluate its usefulness.
UNASSIGNED: We included 347 consecutive patients with degenerative lumbar disease who underwent single- or double-level PLIF. The participants were divided into 2 groups by the use of a drain or not; drain group and no-drain group.
UNASSIGNED: In 165 cases of PLIF without drain, there was neither a newly developed neurological deficit due to hematoma nor reoperation for hematoma evacuation. In the no-drain group, there were 5 (3.0%) patients who suffered from surgical site infection (SSI), all superficial, and 17 (10.3%) patients who complained of postoperative transient recurred leg pain, all treated conservatively. Days from surgery to ambulation and length of hospital stay (LOS) of the no-drain group were faster than those of the drain group (P < 0.001). In a multiple regression analysis, a drain insertion was found to have a significant effect on the delayed ambulation and increased LOS. No significant differences existed between the 2 groups in additional surgery for hematoma evacuation, or SSI.
UNASSIGNED: No hematoma-related neurological deficits or reoperations caused by epidural hematoma and SSI were observed in the no-drain group. The no-drain group did not show significantly more frequent postoperative complications than the drain use group, hence the routine insertion of a drain following PLIF should be reconsidered carefully.

BACKGROUND: Surgical closed suction drain (SCSDs) are used in a variety of surgical disciplines to prevent postoperative fluid collections. Use of SCSDs has not been well studied in the neurosurgical literature. Practice patterns have varied within our institution with respect to SCSDs after craniotomies for neurotrauma. In this study we describe SCSD use for patients undergoing evacuation of supratentorial epidural hematomas (EDHs) and examine the effect on patient outcomes and length of hospital stay.
METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of craniotomies for supratentorial EDH performed at our Level I trauma center between May 2015 and May 2018. Imaging and clinical data were obtained from chart review.
RESULTS: Fifty-two patients with EDH received operations from 8 attending surgeons. The number of drains used was 0 or 1 in 36 cases and 2 or more in 16 cases. Drain location was subgaleal in 25 cases, epidural in 8 cases, and both subgaleal and epidural in 13 cases. Attending preference (P < 0.001) but not hematoma size was associated with use of an epidural drain and use of 2 or more drains. After controlling for age, initial neurologic exam, and presence of other injuries, use of more drains was associated with longer intensive care unit lengths of stay. Drain use pattern was not associated with patient outcome measures, and no return to the operating room was necessary for residual or recurrent EDH.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of fewer SCSDs did not affect radiographic outcome after evacuation of epidural hematomas but was associated with decreased intensive care unit length of stay.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous emphysema (SE) is a frequent and often self-limiting complication of tube thoracostomy or other cardiothoracic procedures. On rare occasions, severe and extensive surgical emphysema marked by palpable cutaneous tension, dysphagia, dysphonia, palpebral closure or associated with pneumoperitoneum, airway compromise, \"tension phenomenon\" and respiratory failure require treatment.
METHODS: A 67 year old lady presented with a large spontaneous pneumothorax on the background of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and newly diagnosed lung cancer, developed extensive surgical emphysema following insertion of a chest drain. Immediate improvement was observed after insertion of a large-bore, 26 French (Fr.) intercostal catheter, subcutaneous drain which was maintained under low suction (-5 cm H2O) for a further 24 h.
CONCLUSIONS: Several methods have been described in the literature for the treatment of extensive subcutaneous emphysema, including: emergency tracheostomy, multisite subcutaneous drainage, infraclavicular \"blow holes\" incisions and subcutaneous drains or simply increasing suction on an in situ chest drain. Here a large-bore, fenestrated, subcutaneous drain maintained on low negative pressure also provided the necessary decompression.
CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of a comparative study to identify the most effective method to manage extensive subcutaneous emphysema, this case highlights an effective, simple and safe management option.

BACKGROUND: trocar site herniation is a rare but potentially serious complication of laparoscopic surgery. Data about drain site hernia after laparoscopic surgery is scarce and anecdotal.
METHODS: we report an uncommon case of drain site hernia in a man undergone laparoscopic left colectomy for a colonic adenocarcinoma who developed small bowel herniation in a 10 mm port site, in which a 24 FR drain was inserted leaving a real free space of 2 mm.
CONCLUSIONS: laparoscopic approach has gained widespread acceptance in each surgical fields because of the perceived better postoperative outcomes in terms of less pain, faster recovery, and lower risk of incisional hernia. However, the risk of trocar site hernia has been known since 1967. Different risk factors for the development of trocar site hernia are described in literature: the trocar diameter and design, preexisting fascial defects, enlargement of a port site to remove a specimen, high blood glucose levels, obesity, increase intra-abdominal pressure as in chronic obstructive airway disease or extensive manipulation of the trocar during surgical intervention, which may enlarge the trocar site and thus induce small bowel herniation. However, the most important recognized risk factor for trocar site hernia is the size of the trocar.
CONCLUSIONS: waiting for further studies, the lesson to be learnt from this case report is that, even if the free space after drain positioning is minimal, drain should not be positioned through the 10 mm trocar to allow the closure of fascial defect in order to avoid any herniation.

Stent migration into pancreatic pseudocysts during endosonographic (EUS) cystogastrostomy is a relatively rare complication. The migrated stent may induce, if it remains within the body, infection and perforation. Therefore, retrieval and/or re-stenting is necessary. Endoscopic retrieval is commonly attempted first. However, it is technically challenging and largely dependent on the skill of the endoscopists; if retrieval is unsuccessful, surgery is usually carried out. We report a case of stent migration into a pancreatic pseudocyst that was retrieved with a percutaneous approach under imaging guidance using a simple technique with available devices. A technique that enhances the role of interventional radiology in the management of this rare complication.