ARE SILICONE DRAINS SUPERIOR IN MASTECTOMY?

Abstract

AIM:To investigate the advantages of using silicone haemovac drains over conventional ones after mastectomy.MATERIAL and METHOD:Sixtyfour breast carcinoma patients were included in the study operated between March 2002- December 2003. For the 34 patients of fi rst group conventional drains were used whereas for the 30 patients of the second group silicone drains were used. Groups were compared in respect to amount of drainage, duration of drainage, fl ap necrosis, wound infection and seroma collection. Drains were removed when daily drainage drops below 30 cc in both groups.FINDINGS:The mean duration of drainage in the first group was 6.7±3 days, whereas it was 6.6±2 days in the second group. The mean amount of drainage in the both groups was 111±33 cc and 110±30 cc respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups for the amount of drainage and duration of drainage. There was no flap infection nor flap necrosis in both groups. Seroma collection on the first day after drain removal was noted in 10 patients of first group and in 5 patients of second group (p<0.05).