WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Omar S. Abdelqader Al-Abassi, Faris M. Hadi Al-Shamaa and Nashwan Mohammed Rajab

ABSTRACT

Background: Seroma formation is the most frequent postoperative complication after breast cancer surgery. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of various clinical and therapeutic variables on seroma formation. Patients and methods: A case series study of patients who underwent surgical therapy for breast disease with either modified radical mastectomy (MRM), wide local excision (WLE), or lumpectomy was carried out. The data clinical information was extracted from case records. Seroma formation was studied in relation to age, type of surgery, tumor size, level of axillary dissection, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical instrument (electrocautery or scalpel), type of drain, and duration of drainage. Study Setting: Al-Jumhoori Teaching Hospital. Results: A total of 143 patients with breast disease were studied. The mean age of the patients was 47 years (SD ± 4). Twenty-nine percent underwent modified radical mastectomy, 11% with WLE, and the remaining 58% with lumpectomy. Seroma occurred in 15% of patients with cancer. No other factor studied was found to significantly affect the seroma formation after breast cancer surgery. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the nature of the disease, the type of surgery, and the use of cautery for dissection is a predicting factor for seroma.