Outcomes of Wound Drainage versus No Wound Drainage in the Patients Undergoing Mastectomy
Outcomes of Wound Drainage vs No Wound Drainage
Keywords:
Mastectomy, Seroma, Suction drainageAbstract
Background and objective: Seroma formation is the most common complication after total mastectomy or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The role of drainage is still controversial since some evidence suggests that it does not prevent the formation of seroma. This study aimed to evaluate seroma formation and postoperative complications in patients undergoing mastectomy with or without drainage.
Patients and Methods: A cohort of female patients with breast cancer or other breast conditions were retrospectively studied at the Division of Head Neck and Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Siriraj Hospital from November 2018 to August 2019. The patients were divided into drain and no drain groups. Demographic data, seroma formation, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared.
Results: A total of 129 patients were included in this study, 67 patients with drainage and 62 patients without drainage. The incidence of seroma formation was similar between the two groups. The total volume of aspirated seroma was significantly higher in the no drain group (p = 0.010). When combining the volume of seroma (drained + aspirated), the volume in the drain group was significantly higher than that in the no drain group (p = 0.020). The number of aspirations was higher in the drain group: 2 (0-9) vs 3 (0-14), p = 0.031. The patients in the no drain group had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay, 2.0 (1.0-3.0) vs 4.0 (2.0-10.0) days, p < 0.001.
Conclusions: No drainage is a feasible option in patients undergoing mastectomy in terms of reducing hospital stay but not increasing the incidence of symptomatic seroma and wound complications compared to routine drain placement.
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