Conventional Suture With Prolonged Timing of Drainage is as Good as Quilting Suture in Preventing Seroma Formation at Pectoral Area After Mastectomy

Abstract BackgroundThe aim of this study was to compare conventional suture with prolonged timing of drainage with quilting suture on the formation of seroma at pectoral area after mastectomy (ME) with sentinel lymph nodes biopsy (SLN) or axillary lymph nodes dissection (ALND) for breast cancer.Methods388 consecutive breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed and categorized into three group. Patients in group 1 were with quilting suture, group 2 with conventional suture and 13-15 days drainage in situ, and group 3 with conventional suture and 20-22 days drainage. The primary outcome was the incidence of Grade 2 and 3 seroma at anterior pectoral area within one month postoperatively. Cox regression was used for analysis.ResultsThe incidence of Grade 2 and 3 seroma was comparable among groups (9.5% vs. 7.9% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.437), as well as late Grade 2 and 3 seroma among groups (4.3% vs. 2.9% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.412). Old age, high body mass index and hypertension were independently risk factors for Grade 2 and 3 seroma.ConclusionsProlonged timing of drainage to 13-15 days in conventional suture was long enough to decrease the incidence of Grade 2 and 3 seroma as lower as that in quilting suture group at pectoral area within one month after mastectomy.