Axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer and fibrin glue.
BACKGROUND
Axillary lymphadenectomy or sentinel biopsy is integral part of breast cancer treatment, yet seroma formation occurs in 15-85% of cases. Among methods employed to reduce seroma magnitude and duration, fibrin glue has been proposed in numerous studies with controversial results.


METHODS
Eighty patients underwent quadrantectomy or mastectomy with level I/II axillary lymphadenectomy; a suction drain was fitted in all patients. Fibrin glue spray were applied to the axillary fossa in 40 patients; the other 40 patients were treated conventionally.


RESULTS
Suction drainage was removed between post-operative Days 3 and 4. Seroma magnitude and duration were significantly reduced (p=0.004 and 0.02, respectively), and there were fewer evacuative punctures, in patients receiving fibrin glue compared with the conventional treatment group.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of fibrin glue does not always prevent seroma formation, but does reduce seroma magnitude, duration and necessary evacuative punctures.
Roberto
R
Ruggiero
Giovanni
G
Docimo
Adelmo
A
Gubitosi
Giovanni
G
Conzo
Salvatore
S
Tolone
Simona
S
Gili
Alfonso
A
Bosco
Ludovico
L
Docimo
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D049291:Seroma / Q000517:prevention & control*
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive