A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Output Volume Thresholds For Drain Removal After Selective Lateral Neck Dissections

All adult patients (18 years old and over) undergoing unilateral SLNDs either levels I-III, I-IV, or II-III, II-IV, or II-VA for oral cavity, oropharynx (if the resection does not connect to the neck), thyroid, salivary gland, parotid, and skin carcinoma by one of three Head and Neck Surgery faculty members at UCSF will be consecutively registered. A randomized packet containing the patient's research ID number will be pulled and included into the patient's chart. Randomization will be done at the initiation of the study by creating a randomization list with blocking and stratification by surgeon. An envelope containing the patients randomized group assignment will not be opened until the end of the case. The patients will be randomized to one of two groups; drains placed routinely and removed once output is less than 30ml over 24-hours or 15ml over 12-hours and drains placed routinely and removed on rounds the morning of postoperative day one if output is less than 100ml total and does not appear chylous. Exclusion criteria will be bilateral neck dissections, revision neck dissections (prior surgery in the ipsilateral neck including excisional lymph node biopsy), previous radiation, need for sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) excision, need for internal jugular (IJ) excision, pectoralis major flap reconstruction of a ipsilateral skin defect, and anticoagulant medications other than routine deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis with either weight-based subcutaneous heparin or enoxaparin within 8 days postoperatively.

The procedure and postoperative care will be standardized to the degree described as follows: One 10 French Jackson-Pratt drain will be used. All necks will be closed with 3-0 vicryl, 4-0 monocryl, and 5-0 fast absorbing sutures. All patients will receive standardized postoperative orders including inpatient antibiotics not to exceed 24hrs (unless an infection is suspected) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis; either weight based subcutaneous heparin or enoxaparin. The chief resident will receive an email indicating when to remove drain. All patients will receive standardized postoperative instructions including wound care with and without drain. A standardized physical exam will be performed on all patients every day of inpatient stay by the chief resident and on postoperative appointment (5-8 days post-operatively) by the attending surgeon to evaluate for clinical evidence of seroma and hematomas.

Physical exam will specifically include:

Inspect and palpate for presence fluctuance. Inspect for color change, erythema or ecchymosis Palpate for tenderness

All patients will be given a patient satisfaction questionnaire at their first postoperative visit to evaluate their overall satisfaction with their hospital stay, their recovery and healing of their wound, their comfort with home care, and level of pain. We plan to use the validated questionnaire, the measurement of quality of recovery (QoR-40).