Swedish National Parotidectomy Study (SNaPs): Drainless Versus Standard Surgery

The purpose of this study The purpose of this study is to find out if it is safe to perform surgery on the parotid gland (the large salivary gland in front of the ear) without using a wound drain. A wound drain is a small plastic tube used to remove excess fluid from the surgical site after the operation. Currently, using a drain is the standard practice in Sweden, which often means patients must stay in hospital overnight. Researchers want to see if skipping the drain is just as safe and if it could allow more patients to return home on the same day as their surgery. What happens during the study Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups during their surgery: Group 1: Will receive the standard treatment with a wound drain. Group 2: Will have the surgery performed without a wound drain. Apart from the use of a drain, all participants will receive the same surgical care. After the operation, researchers will monitor the healing process. Participants will be asked to fill out questionnaires about their health and any symptoms at one week and six months after their surgery. The goal of the study The main goal is to compare the safety of the two methods. Researchers will look at whether there is any difference in the number of complications, such as fluid build-up (seroma), bleeding, or infections, between those who had a drain and those who did not. The study also aims to evaluate if avoiding a drain improves the patient's quality of life and if it is a more cost-effective approach for the healthcare system.