TITLE:
“Axillary Space Obliteration”—An Effective Technique in Reducing Seroma Formation after Mastectomy and Axillary Dissection
AUTHORS:
Mohammed Abd Elgalil Elbalshy, Asem Mostafa Fayed, Mahmoud Gamaleldeen Hagag
KEYWORDS:
Seroma, Mastectomy, Axillary Space, Obliteration
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Breast Cancer Research,
Vol.7 No.1,
January
25,
2018
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Seroma is the commonest complication of breast cancer surgery, and
although its consequences most often cause no more than discomfort and anxiety,
more important sequelae include flap necrosis and wound dehiscence. Seroma
management can be difficult and frustrating for both the patient and surgeon. Numerous methods
to reduce post-mastectomy seroma formation have been tried with no consistent success. Methods: Sixty patients were prepared for modified radical mastectomy. Of those, the
study group contains 30 patients and the control group contains 30 patients.
Study group had axillary space obliteration while the other had the
conventional procedure; total drain outputs were recorded daily for all
patients prior to drain removal. The drains were removed when the daily
drainage was less than 30 ml. Results: This study contains 60 patients, and the study group contains 30
patients, and the control group contains 30 patients. Age, tumor size, No. of
positive lymph nodes were of no significant differences to be more concise on
the effect of axillary space obliteration. The mean of day of drain removal in
the control group was 13.2 ± 1.0 days (9 - 18 days) with a mean of total drain output of (4700 ± 90.3 ml) (3722 - 4930)
while the mean in the study group of day of drain removal was 7.1 ± 1.3 days (6 - 12) with a mean of total drain output of 1530 ± 422 ml (range 600 - 2100
ml) p . Conclusion: Obliteration of axillary space is a valuable procedure that significantly
decreases seroma after mastectomy and axillary dissection.