[Prevention of postoperative lymphocele after breast amputation]

Closed suction drainage is widely used after modified radical mastectomy to prevent accumulation of serum or lymph and to promote adherence of the skin flaps to the chest wall. However, between 5 and 35% of the patients develop seroma, which may prolong their stay in hospital and require more frequent post-operative outpatient visits. The prospective study reported demonstrate a significant correlation between the incidence of post-operative seromas, the duration of suction drainage and the amounts of fluid drained. The incidence of seroma also correlated significantly with the patient's age, the size of the breast removed, the presence of arterial hypertension and the post-operative use of heparin. Pre-operative radiotherapy and the TNM type of the tumour had no effect on the duration and volume of drainage nor on the occurrence of seromas. A drainage of short duration and a short stay in hospital are advocated for most mastectomy patients. Delayed mobilization of the shoulder should decrease the volume of accumulated fluid and the incidence of seromas.