Guidelines for Complications of Cancer Treatment Vol VIII Part B

modality, and tumor stage distribution. In 29 patients, a fibringluecoated collagen patch was applied from the apex axillaeto the thoracic longus nerve and half a patch was applied tothe lateral border of the axillary nerve-vessel bundle. Thirtyonepatients were randomised to standard closure of the axillarylymphadenectomy area. The mean duration of axillary drainagewas 3.8 +/- 1.9 days in the fibrin-glue treatment group and3.9 +/- 1.8 days in the control group (p = NS). The mean totaldrainage volume was 338.5 +/- 251.8 ml in the fibrin-gluetreatment group and 370.8 +/- 314.6 ml in the standard closuregroup (p = NS). The mean length of post-operative hospitalstay was 9.1 +/- 2.7 days in the fibrin-glue treatment groupand 9.3 +/- 3.6 days in the standard closure group (p = NS).Seven patients (25%) and eight patients (25%) were diagnosedwith local inflammation in the fibrin-glue treatment group andthe standard closure group, respectively (p = NS). Seromaformation after drain removal was found in 11 patients (39%)in the fibrin-glue treatment group and in 13 patients (42%) inthe standard closure group (p = NS). In summary, we observedno statistically significant differences with respect to axillarydrainage time, drainage volume, and length of hospital stay,local inflammation, and seroma formation after drainageremoval.PMID: 11518470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]25. Fibrin sealant reduces the duration and amount offluid drainage after axillary dissection:A randomized prospective clinical trial.Moore M, Burak WE Jr, Nelson E, et al. J Am Coll Surg.2001 May;192(5):591-9.BACKGROUND: Patients who have axillary dissectionsduring lumpectomy or modified radical mastectomy for breastcarcinoma accumulate serosanguinous fluid, potentially32