Prevention of lymphorrhea by means of fibrin glue after axillary lymphadenectomy in breast cancer: Prospective randomized trial

A prospective randomized trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of fibrin glue in preventing lymphorrhea after axillary lymphadenectomy in bre ast cancer, One hundred and eight breast cancer patients, operated on by tw o senior surgeons, were randomized into two groups: group 1 (n = 58) withou t fibrin glue and group 2 (n = 50) with 2 mi of fibrin glue applied to the axillary dissection area at the end of the lymphadenectomy procedure. Early postoperative morbidity was 2/58 and 0/50 in groups I and 2, respectively, Mean daily postoperative drainage was significantly greater in group 1, Th e mean cumulative drainage quantity 6 days after the operation was 407.8 mi and 214.4 ml in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.001). The mean postope rative hospital stay was 10.1 days and 8.0 days in groups 1 and 2, respecti vely (p = 0.006). One delayed seroma was observed in each group. Fibrin glu e seems to reduce daily postoperative drainage and hospital stay, but did n ot affect delayed seroma formation after axillary lymphadenectomy for breas t cancer.