Comparison between low and high pressure suction drainage following axillary clearance.
OBJECTIVE
We report the comparison of low (Exudrain) and high pressure (Redivac) drains in 69 patients following mastectomy and axillary clearance.


METHODS
Volume of drainage was recorded daily for 8 days postoperatively.


RESULTS
Comparison of daily drainage revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups of patients (P>0.05). There were no complications specific to the drains and we found similar numbers of infective complications in both groups. Hospital stay was also similar in the two groups (P=0. 70).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the two drainage systems are equally effective in their drainage abilities although use of the low pressure may have an advantage over the high pressure system as it obviates the need for bottle changes and therefore requires less time and effort to manage.
Wedderburn
A
A
Department of Surgery, Royal South Hants Hospital, Brintons Terrace, Southampton, SO9 4PE, UK.
Gupta
R
R
Bell
N
N
Royle
G
G
D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011312:Pressure; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*