Does quilting suture prevent seroma in abdominoplasty?
BACKGROUND
Seroma is the most frequent complication in abdominoplasty. Some patients are more prone to develop this complication. Ultrasound is a well-known method with which to diagnose seroma in the abdominal wall. The purpose of this study was to verify the efficacy of the use of quilting suture to prevent seroma.


METHODS
Twenty-one female patients who presented with abdominal deformity type III/A according to the authors' classification of abdominal skin and myoaponeurotic deformity had undergone abdominoplasty. The selected patients should have had at least one of the following characteristics: body mass index greater than 25 kg/m; weight loss greater than 10 kg; previous incision in the supraumbilical region; or present thinning of the subcutaneous in the area above the umbilicus. Ultrasound was performed for every patient from 15 to 18 days after the operation to search for fluid collection in the abdominal wall.


RESULTS
The average fluid collection found was 8.2 cc per patient. Only two patients underwent aspiration because ultrasound showed greater than 20 cc collected above the fascial layer. These patients did not present with recurrence of seroma after aspiration.


CONCLUSIONS
The quilting suture seems to be an efficient technique with which to prevent seroma formation.
Nahas
Fabio Xerfan
FX
Division of Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil. fabionahas@uol.com.br
Ferreira
Lydia Masako
LM
Ghelfond
Charles
C
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049291:Seroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014463:Ultrasonography