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.
Clinical Oncology Unit, Guy's Hospital, London.
R
R
Inwang
H
H
Hamed
M A
MA
Chaudary
I S
IS
Fentiman
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