title: Seroma and quilting suture at the donor site of the TRAM flap in breast reconstruction: a prospective randomized double-blind clinical trial.
abstract: Seroma formation at the donor site of the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap was evaluated in 48 patients who underwent breast reconstruction with either quilting sutures and suction drains (QS+DN group) or quilting sutures alone (QS group) or suction drains alone (DN group). Clinical and ultrasound examinations were performed to assess seroma formation in 5 regions of the abdominal wall on postoperative days 7 and 14. The incidence of seroma detected by ultrasound examination was significantly higher in the DN group (P = 0.008) than that in the other 2 groups. No difference in seroma volume (puncture) was found between the QS+DN and QS groups (P = 1.00). Seroma formation was observed in the iliac region in the DN group but not in the QS+DN and QS groups (P = 0.028). Quilting sutures at the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap donor site were efficient in reducing seroma formation.
authors: From the *Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo; and †Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), and Women's Health Reference Center, Pérola Byington Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Luis Antonio
authors: LA
authors: Rossetto
authors: Elvio Bueno
authors: EB
authors: Garcia
authors: Luiz Eduardo Felipe
authors: LE
authors: Abla
authors: Lydia Masako
authors: LM
authors: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D064827:Myocutaneous Flap; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D049291:Seroma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013396:Suction; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome