Predictors of Increased Surgical Drain Output following Type I Thyroplasty for Glottic Insufficiency.

Objective: To determine predictors of increased drain output following type I thyroplasty for glottic insufficiency.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for patients who underwent type I thyroplasty for glottic insufficiency from 2014-2019. The primary outcome was 24-hour drain output. Increased drain output was defined as >50th percentile for the sample. Univariate logistic regression models and linear regression models were used.

Results: There were 84 patients with a mean age of 58.9 (SD 16.9) years. Twenty-four-hour drain output ranged from 0 to 29 mL with a mean of 9.47 (SD 6.49) mL. Patients with a history of tobacco use (OR 3.33; 95% CI, 1.24-8.95; P = .017) and prior neck surgery (OR 3.52; 95% CI, 1.26 to 9.83; P = .016) were significantly more likely to have increased drain output following surgery; these patients had a mean increase in 24-hour drain output of 3.51 mL (95% CI, 0.52 to 6.51; P = .022) and 1.74 mL (95% CI, -1.41 to 4.89; P = .274), respectively. Type of implant (Gore-Tex vs. Silastic; P = .425) and operative technique (unilateral vs. bilateral; P = .506) were not significantly associated with drain output.

Conclusion: History of tobacco use and prior surgery of the neck predict increased drain output following type I thyroplasty surgery. These patients may derive the most benefit from surgical drain placement. More research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate potential mechanisms.

Level Of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1557-1560, 2021.