Timing of Postoperative Drain Removal Following Parotidectomy - a Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

There is no standard of care of management following parotidectomies. Most practitioners however place a drain (usually a flat Davol closed suction drain/ Hemovac in the investigators institutions) in the wound bed at the end of the procedure, which is usually removed the day following the surgery, or when the drain output reaches a subjective number (depending on surgeon preference). The investigators hypothesis is that there is no difference in hematoma/bleeding or infection rate when post parotidectomy drains are removed in the recovery area on the day of the surgery prior to discharge, compared to drains that are kept in place for at least 1 day or until drainage is less than 50 cc/24 hrs. The investigators would therefore like to undergo a randomized control clinical trial to assess the rate of significant hematoma formation and infection, the need for readmission and length of admission secondary to these complications when comparing 2 groups: one where drains are removed prior to discharge from the recovery area and the other where the patients are discharged with the drain and seen the next post operative day in the office. The drain output will then be measured and the drain taken out.