The use of quilting suture in abdominoplasty does not require aspiratory drainage for prevention of seroma.
BACKGROUND
The formation of seromas after abdominoplasty is a highly prevalent complication that disturbs both the patient and the surgeon. Aspiratory drainage and adhesion sutures (Baroudi suture) are widely used to prevent this complication. This study evaluated the effectiveness of drains in preventing seromas.


METHODS
This retrospective study investigated women submitted to classic abdominoplasty with adhesion sutures. The women were divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised 28 individuals who received no drains, and group 2 consisted of 32 patients that had drains placed. Clinical evaluation of the patients was performed 7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis was accomplished via Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
Group 1 had one case of seroma (3.5%), clinically detected between the first and second postoperative months, whereas group 2 had one case (3.12%) detected 14 days postoperatively. Fisher's test showed a P value of 1.000 (not statistically significant), for a 95% confidence interval of 0.05 to 14.08 and an odds ratio of 0.8387. Clinical evaluation showed no statistical difference in the incidence of seromas after abdominoplasty with adhesion sutures between the patients who received drains and those who did not.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of adhesion sutures is an effective measure for preventing seromas with no need for additional surgical measures.
Arantes
Henrique Lopes
HL
Santa Cruz Institute of Plastic Surgery, Rua Santa Cruz, Number 398, Vila Mariana, São Paulo, SP CEP 04122000, Brazil. gruguim@hotmail.com
Rosique
Rodrigo Gouvêa
RG
Rosique
Marina Junqueira Ferreira
MJ
Mélega
Jose Marcos
JM
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D049291:Seroma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome