Seroma prevention after modified radical mastectomy

Abstract

The most common mastectomy-associated complication is seroma formation. Seromas can be associated with other more serious complications such as skin flap necrosis, delayed wound healing, infection, and lymphedema. The flap tacking procedure that closes the axillary fossa dead space and tacks the mastectomy flaps to the chest wall has been suggested as one potential technique to reduce the incidence of postmastectomy seromas. This institution-wide study of modified radical mastectomies demonstrated a significant decrease (P < 0.0381) in the incidence of seroma when flap tacking was performed. Women who developed a seroma, compared to those who did not, averaged nearly twice as any office visits in the first 2 months after the operation. Distribution of office visits between the seroma patients and nonseroma patients was significant (P < 0.0001). When practiced by several surgeons, the flap tacking procedure 1) reduces postmastectomy seromas and 2) reduces the amount of postoperative patient office visits and care.