title: Effects of Quilting Suture Interval on Donor Site Seromas After Breast Reconstruction With Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flap: A Randomized Trial.
abstract: Although breast reconstruction using a deep inferior artery perforator flap has been increasing, using a latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle flap is still the favored method for Asian female patients with breast cancer. However, because the incidence of donor site seromas has been relatively high, a quilting method on the donor cavity or insertion of drainage tube has been used to reduce the incidence and/or severity of postoperative seroma. We evaluated the effects of different intervals of quilting sutures on the postoperative drainage volume and components of seroma fluid.
  
  
  
  A total of 36 patients with breast cancer underwent partial or total mastectomy with LD flap reconstruction. They were randomized into 3 groups according to the interval of quilting sutures: nonquilting (n = 10), 6-cm quilting (n = 14), and 3-cm quilting (n = 12). The clinicopathologic factors and time to drain removal, drainage volume, frequency of aspiration, and serous fluid components were investigated.
  
  
  
  No statistically significant differences were found in the clinicopathologic factors among the 3 groups. The time to drain removal was significantly shorter in the 6-cm quilting and 3-cm quilting groups than in the nonquilting group (P = .039 and P = .041, respectively). The total volume of drainage from the donor site was also decreased in the quilting groups (6-cm group, P = .046; 3-cm group, P = .021). The seroma components were not different among the 3 groups.
  
  
  
  Performing quilting sutures on LD flap donor sites is an effective method to reduce the volume of postoperative seroma. The present findings showed that a 6-cm suture interval is appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeeyeon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youngtae
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hyang
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wan Wook
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Ook
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taek Ju
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: phy123@knu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ho Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seokwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Younglae
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D049291:Seroma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Breast carcinoma; LD flap; Quilting interval; Seroma