The use of suction drains following thyroid and parathyroid surgery is controversial. Although there have been several prospective and retrospective studies carried out on this subject, no paper had sufficient power to provide a suitable answer to whether or not drains should be used routinely. We present the first formal meta-analysis of the data from eight randomized controlled trials on this subject. The result of the meta-analysis showed that there is no difference in complication rates between patients in whom drains have been used routinely and those in whom they have not.