Seromas belong to common postoperative complications in breast surgery, with the prevalence rate from 3% to 60%. Our aim in this paper was to establish the factors most significant in the occurrence of seroma after radical surgery for breast cancer. The study employed a prospective non-randomized design and took place at the General Surgery Clinic, Clinical Center Niš. The studied group comprised 100 female patients with diagnosed primary breast cancer. All the patients underwent radical surgery – modified radical mastectomy according to Madden. The following patient factors were observed: age, body mass index (BMI), disease stage, median primary tumor size at diagnosis, cancer-involved retrieved nodes, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, dissection technique (cautery/scalpel), estimated blood loss, drainage on the last day (in ml) and duration of surgery. Seroma was defined as any clinically detected collection of fluid under the flaps. Seromas were identified in 21 patients. BMI was the factor most significant in the formation of seroma in our study – OR 1.39, CI (1.058–2.65), and the following factors were also statistically significant: dissection technique – OR 1.76, CI (1.17–7.67), and total duration of drainage of the surgical wound – OR 1.12, CI (1.06–2.41). Surgery is the most important aspect of breast cancer treatment. The rate of postoperative complications after breast surgery for cancer is relatively low. In our study, BMI had the greatest predictive significance for seroma formation, followed by the parameters such as dissection technique and total duration of drainage of the surgical wound as statistically significant as well.
Bonnema J, Van Geel AN, Wiggers T, Ligtenstein DA. Perioperative and postoperative tranexamic acid reduces the local wound complication rate after surgery for breast cancer. Journal of British Surgery. 1994;81(11):1693–1693.
2.
Liu CD, Mc Fadden DW. Overnight closed suction drainage after axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer. Am Surg. 1997;63:868–70.
3.
Yii M, Murphy C, Orr N. Early removal of drains and discharge of breast cancer surgery patients. A controlled prospective trial. Ann Coll Surg Engl. 1995;77:377–9.
4.
Inwang R, Chaudary MA, H H. A con-trolled trial of short term vs standard axillary drainage after axillary clearance and irridium implant treatment of early breast cancer. Ann R Coll Surg-Engl. 1991;73:326–8.
5.
SOMERS RG, JABLON LK, KAPLAN MJ, SANDLER GL, ROSENBLATT NK. The Use of Closed Suction Drainage After Lumpectomy and Axillary Node Dissection for Breast Cancer A Prospective Randomized Trial. Annals of Surgery. 1992;215(2):146–9.
6.
Kopelman, O. Klemm, H. Bahous, R. K D. Postoperative Suction Drainage of the Axilla: for How Long? Prospective Randomised Trial. The European Journal of Surgery. 1999;165(2):117–20.
7.
Barwell J, Campwell L, RM W. How long should suction drains stay in after breast surgery with axillary dissection. Ann R CollSurgEngl. 1997;79:435–7.
Wyman A, Rogers K. Randomized trial of laser scalpel for modified radical mastectomy. Journal of British Surgery. 1993;80(7):871–3.
10.
Kerin MJ, O’Hanlon DM, Kenny P, Kent PJ, Given HF. Argon-enhanced cutting and coagulation confers advantages over conventional electrocautery for mastectomy. European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO). 1996;22(6):571–3.
11.
Tejler G, Aspegren K. Complications and hospital stay after surgery for breast cancer: A prospective study of 385 patients. Journal of British Surgery. 1985;72(7):542–4.
12.
Bonnema J, Ligtenstein DA, Wiggers T, van Geel AN. The composition of serous fluid after axillary dissection. European Journal of Surgery. 1999;165(1):9–13.
13.
Porter K, O’Connor S, Rimm E, Lopez M. Electrocautery as a factor in seroma formation following mastectomy. The American Journal of Surgery. 1998;176(1):8–11.
14.
Bryant M, Baum M. Postoperative seroma following mastectomy and axillary dissection. Journal of British Surgery. 1987;74(12):1187–1187.
15.
Srivastava V, Basu S, Shukla VK. Seroma Formation after Breast Cancer Surgery: What We Have Learned in the Last Two Decades. Journal of Breast Cancer. 2012;15(4):373.
16.
Karanikolic A, Karanikolic V, Milic D. Role of prognostic factors in the mana-gement of breast can-cer. Acta Fac Med Naiss. 2005;22(2):85–9.
17.
Keogh GW, Doughty JC, McArdle CSM, Cooke TG. Seroma formation related to electrocautery in breast surgery: a prospective randomized trial. The Breast. 1998;7(1):39–41.
18.
Oertli D, Laffer U, Haberthuer F, Kreuter U, Harder F. Perioperative and postoperative tranexamic acid reduces the local wound complication rate after surgery for breast cancer. Journal of British Surgery. 1994;81(6):856–9.
19.
Watt-Boolsen S, Nielsen VB, Jensen J, seroma BSP mastectomy. A study of the nature and ori-gin of seroma after mastectomy. Dan Med Bull. 2003;36:487–9.
20.
Petrek JA. Axillary Lymphadenectomy. Archives of Surgery. 1990;125(3):378.
21.
Bryant M, Baum M. Postoperative seroma following mastectomy and axillary dissection. Br J Surg. 2000;97:1187–9.
22.
Kumar S, Lal B, Misra MC. Post-mastectomy se-roma: a new look into the aetiology of an age old problem. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1995;40:292–4.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
