Prevention of seroma formation after mastectomy and axillary dissection by lymph vessel ligation and dead space closure: a randomized trial

IntroductionWe aimed to reduce the incidence of seroma formation by altering surgical technique.MethodsTwo hundred one breast cancer patients were randomly divided into 2 arms: arm 1 was operated on using an altered surgical technique, which is to ligate all of the tissue connecting axillary vein bundles to the specimen, to suture the anterior edge of the latissimus dorsi to the chest wall, and to fix the skin flap to the underlying muscle by subcutaneous sutures; arm 2 was operated on using the conventional technique.ResultsThe drainage volume, in the initial 3 days, for patients in arm 1 was significantly less than that for patients in arm 2 (P < .01). The duration of drainage in arm 1 was shorter than that in arm 2 (P < .01). The incidence of seroma formation in arm 1 (2%) was significantly less than that in arm 2 (14%) (P < .01).ConclusionThe modified operating technique is an effective approach to reducing the incidence of seroma formation after mastectomy and axillary dissection.