title: Complications following inguinal and ilioinguinal lymphadenectomies: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inguinal lymphadenectomy is essential for regional staging of malignant melanoma in the lower part of the body. The procedure is associated with a wide range of complication rates. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature for papers describing complication rates following inguinal (ID) and ilioinguinal (I-ID) lymphadenectomies, and estimate the actual complication rates in patients with malignant melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies reporting complications following ID and I-ID for malignant melanomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 416 records were identified, of which 20 were deemed eligible for this study. The complication rates (with 95% confidence intervals) were found to be as follows: overall complications = 52% (44-60%); lymphorrea = 29% (0-71%); seroma = 23% (18-29%); infection = 21% (15-27%); wound breakdown  =14% (8-21%); skin edge necrosis = 10% (6-15%); haematoma = 3% (1-5%); and lymphoedema = 33% (25-42%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complication rates following ID and I-ID remain high, despite the many efforts to reduce these, with lymphorrea, seromas, and infections being the most prevalent complications.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic Surgery , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Söderman
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic Surgery , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
authors.forename: Jørn B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic Surgery , Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007264:Inguinal Canal; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Meta-analysis; groin; lymph node excision; metastasis; morbidity; neoplasms