title: Axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer in elderly patients and fibrin glue.
abstract: 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
  Thirty patients over 60 years 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 15 patients; the other 15 patients were treated with harmonic scalpel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Suction drainage was removed between post-operative Days 3 and 4. Seroma magnitude and duration were not significant in patients receiving fibrin glue compared with the harmonic scalpel group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of fibrin glue does not always prevent seroma formation, but can reduce seroma magnitude, duration and necessary evacuative punctures.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Docimo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limongelli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conzo
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gili
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzuto
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marsico
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vitiello
authors.forename: Landino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Docimo
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D049291:Seroma / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive