Effect of Lavage with Gentamicin vs. Clindamycin vs. Physiologic Saline on Drainage Discharge of the Axillary Surgical Bed after Lymph Node Dissection

Abstract

Background: To date, without placement of a drain, seroma formation cannot be avoided after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect on drainage volume of pre-closure axillary lavage with physiologic saline, gentamicin solution, or clindamycin solution.

Methods: A randomized study was performed between January 2013 and October 2014. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of breast neoplasm and plans to undergo an elective ALND because of axillary metastases. The patients were randomized into three groups: Two lavages with 500 mL of physiologic saline (Group 1), lavage with 500 mL of saline followed by lavage with 500 mL of a 240-mg gentamicin solution (Group 2), and lavage with 500 mL of saline followed by lavage with 500 mL of a 600-mg clindamycin solution (Group 3).

Results: A total of 51 patients were included. The mean number of days with a drain in place was 7.1±3 in Group 1, 4.1±1.2 in Group 2, and 6.4±2.1 in Group 3 (p<0.001). Total drainage volume before tube removal was 435.3±220.1 mL in Group 1, 155.2±82.4 mL in Group 2, and 352.3±212.9 mL in Group 3 (p=0.03). In a pairwise analysis, irrigation with gentamicin solution achieved a lower drainage volume and a reduction in the number of days of drainage maintenance compared with the other two groups.

Conclusion: The post-operative output of the axillary drain is substantially lower in patients undergoing lavage of the surgical bed with a gentamicin solution than in patients undergoing lavage with physiologic saline or clindamycin solution.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02314806.