[Randomized prospective study of early removal of drainage in breast cancer surgery].
Axillary seroma is absolutely the most frequent complication of breast cancer surgery. The Authors have accrued 100 consecutive breast cancer patients in a randomized study in order to compare seroma incidence by removing drains on 2nd postoperative day (1st arm) versus 3rd postoperative day (2nd arm); 48 patients were accrued in the first arm and 52 in the second. All patients received a standard axillary dissection. Two suction drains were placed. A compressive medication was applied after surgery. Patients started physiotherapy on the 1st postoperative day. The overall seroma prevalence was 21%. We have 8/48 (16%) seromas in the 1st group and 13/52 (25%) in the 2nd. No significant differences were registered between two arms. Clinical seroma was treated by needle aspiration and medication with a steroid. Conclusions coming out from this study are: 1) early drains removal doesn't increase seroma rate; 2) axillary clearance has to be performed removing en bloc the fatty tissue respecting surgical plains; 3) apply a compressive bandaging; 4) early arm physiotherapy; 5) medication with steroid may reduce the fluid formation.
Amanti
C
C
Unità di Senologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Tecnologie Mediche Applicate, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Roma.
Regolo
L
L
Pucciatti
I
I
Lo Russo
M
M
Moscaroli
A
A
Conte
S
S
Coppola
M
M
Angelini
L
L
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors