Background: While the technological simplicity of an improvised thyroidectomy drain constructed from a 500ml infusion bag and an intravenous fluid giving set is apparent, its biomechanical efficiency and cost effectiveness has not yet been validated against the standard Redivac drain. Objective: To compare the efficiency and outcome of an improvised, negative-pressure, closed tube drain with a custom-made Redivac drain in the management of thyroidectomy wounds at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. Specific objectives were to compare length of time it took for drain insertion, complication rates, drain costs and hospital bills, residual fluid volume in the thyroid bed following drain removal and postoperative pain scores. Patients and Method: This is a hospital based, prospective, randomised control trial that recruited patients requiring drainage following thyroidectomy. Randomisation into either an improvised drain arm or a Redivac drain (control) arm was effected and appropriate drains were inserted. Allocation concealment was maintained till after haemostasis had been achieved and just before wound closure. Postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale, drain complications, cost of the drain and hospital discharge bill were all obtained on a structured proforma. Volume of residual fluid in the thyroid bed following drain removal was assessed by a blinded radiologist using B-mode ultrasound scan with linear frequency of 7.5 megahertz. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 statistical software. Appropriate statistical tests were used with p-value < 0.05 considered as significant. Results: Eighty-six patients achieved the primary end point. Time for improvised drain insertion was significantly longer by 4 minutes (p = 0.006). Complication rates (p =0.704), residual volumes as a measure of drain efficiency (p = 0.349), and pain scores on postoperative day one (p = 0.745), day two (p = 0.070), and on drain removal (p = 0.313) were not statistically different. Difference in cost of drains and discharge bill as a measure of direct cost was significant (p< 0.001 and p = 0.010 respectively) in favour of the improvised drain. There was significant positive correlation between cost of drain and hospital discharge bill (rS (66) = 0.370, p = 0.002). Use of the improvised drain led to savings of 5,688NGN (16.8USD) per patient. Conclusion: The improvised drain is a viable alternative to the more expensive Redivac drain in resource constrained environments and shows equivalence in terms of efficiency, complication rates and postoperative pain scores for partial thyroidectomies. It confers marked economic advantages without compromising biomechanical efficiency. Key Words: Drain, Improvised, Redivac, Thyroidectomy