title: [Technique investigation of endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection by liposuction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the technique of endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection by liposuction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection (E-ALND) after liposuction (group A) were performed on 45 patients with breast cancer from Dec. 2004 to Oct. 2005. It was compared with traditional ALND (group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average operation time of E-ALND was 108 min (60 - 190 min), it was longer than that in group B (P < 0.05). The total blood loss in group A was 152.82 ml (80 - 220 ml), it was less than that in group B significantly (P < 0.01). In group A, the mean lymph nodes harvested by endoscopy were 18 (8 - 34), the total postoperative lymph flow was 140.38 ml (60 - 180 ml), the duration of drainage was 6.91 d (6 - 15 d). The postoperation complication included axillary seromas 7 cases, epidermic blister 5 cases, operation area phlegmon 2 cases were found in group A. There was no significant difference between two groups in the total postoperative lymph flow, the duration of drainage and the number of dissected lymph nodes and postoperation complication. The incision of chest wall was smaller in group A, and patients by this surgery were satisfied with the cosmetic results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic axillary lymph node dissection by liposuction could match the traditional lymphadenectomy. The technique should be further standardized.
authors.affiliation: Breast Disease Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Mei-qin
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xin-hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lin-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Qing-qing
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome