A controlled trial of short-term versus standard axillary drainage after axillary clearance and iridium implant treatment of early breast cancer.
A controlled trial has been conducted to determine the safety of early drain removal after axillary clearance as part of conservation treatment in early breast cancer. A total of 84 patients was entered into the study of whom 41 had the drain removed after 5 days, irrespective of the volume of fluid draining, and 43 had drains removed when fluid was less than 20 ml per day. Of the standard drainage group, 28% required percutaneous aspiration of lymph because of subsequent accumulation, compared with 49% of the short-term drainage group. Early drain removal was not associated with any increase in wound complications nor in cosmetic outcome, but did enable earlier discharge of patients from hospital.
Inwang
R
R
Clinical Oncology Unit, Guy's Hospital, London.
Hamed
H
H
Chaudary
M A
MA
Fentiman
I S
IS
D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D001918:Brachytherapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007902:Length of Stay; D008196:Lymph; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes