Draining after breast reduction: a randomised controlled inter-patient study

One hundred and seven bilateral breast reductions were prospectively randomised during surgery to receive or not receive wound drains. Fifty-five patients were randomised to have a drain and 52 to not have a drain. There was no statistical difference in the number of complications between the drained and undrained group (P=0.092; student's t-test for independent observations). Twenty-two of the 55 patients in the drained group had a complication, 12 of the 52 patients in the undrained group had a complication. The hospital stay was significantly shorter (P<0.001) in the undrained group. The main discomfort score due to the presence of the drains was 5.62, which can be qualified as high. This study demonstrates that breast reduction without postoperative draining does not increase the risk of complications, increases the patient's comfort and significantly reduces hospital stay.