A prospective randomised trial of two treatments for wound seroma after breast surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Seroma formation is a recognised complication of breast surgery causing wound pain and discomfort. It was hypothesised that daily aspiration of symptomatic seromas that formed after breast surgery would encourage flap adherence to the chest wall, thereby allowing swifter resolution of seroma.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients undergoing mastectomy and/or axillary clearance who formed seroma post operatively, were randomised into two groups either having daily aspiration of seroma or aspiration as required by patient symptoms.


RESULTS
The daily aspiration required significantly more attendances for aspiration (P<0.005) and the time from surgery to final aspiration was not reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily aspiration of symptomatic seroma did not result in swifter resolution.
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health