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Preliminary Study of PGA Fabric for Seromas at Latissimus Dorsi Flap Donor Sites
Yoshihito Itani1, Akeo Hagiwara1, Takahiro Hashimoto1
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kindai University, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan; and Department of Medical Life Systems, Graduate School of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan.
Background:
Seroma formation is a major complication following latissimus dorsi (LD) flap transfer for breast reconstruction. We implanted a nonwoven polyglycolic acid (PGA) fabric-a biodegradable polymer-in the LD flap donor site and examined its effect on postoperative seroma formation and resolution in a comparative study on 38 patients undergoing primary 1-stage breast reconstruction by LD flap.
Method:
A PGA treatment group had a PGA fabric placed in the donor wound (PGA group, n = 20), whereas a second group was treated with standard donor site closure (control group, n = 18). The incidence of seromas was comparable between the groups.
Result:
There was a significant reduction in aspiration volume by needle aspiration after drain removal (P < 0.05) and in the time until seroma resolution (P < 0.01) in the PGA group compared with the control group.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that application of PGA at the LD donor site is useful in controlling postoperative seromas.
