Guidelines for Complications of Cancer Treatment Vol VIII Part B

postoperative seroma formation using a single dataset withlimited numbers. The main outcome measure waspostoperative seroma formation defined as a postoperativeaxillary collection requiring more than one aspiration afterremoval of the drain. The incidence of seroma in our institutionis 90%. Incidence of postoperative seroma was 88.3% ifelectrocautery was used, which reduced to 82.2% if surgerywas carried out using scissors for dissection and ligatures forhaemostasis (P = 0.358). There was no influence on theincidence of seroma formation whether suction drain (84.6%)or corrugated drains (86.1%) were used (P = 0.822). The useof electrocautery in axillary dissection does not adversely affectpostoperative seroma formation after surgery for breast cancer.The use of different drainage techniques has no bearing onthe postoperative seroma formation. The surgical techniquehas no influence on the rate of seroma formation after surgeryfor breast cancer.PMID: 17497983 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]15. Reduced use of drains following axillarylymphadenectomy for breast cancer.Talbot ML, Magarey CJ. ANZ J Surg. 2002 Jul;72(7):488-90.BACKGROUND: Axillary dissection is frequently performedduring the treatment of operable breast cancer, and is associatedwith certain morbidities. Accumulation of axillary fluid,otherwise known as a seroma, is a frequent complication thatappears to be related to the degree of dissection. Based onempirical evidence, surgeons have attempted to reduce theoccurrence and duration of seromas by using suction drainage,but this concept has been challenged by several authors.OBJECTIVES: To determine if the natural history of seromafluid accumulation after axillary surgery is altered by theduration of suction drainage or non-placement of a drain.METHODS: Ninety consecutive patients having axillary22