ARGON BEAM COAGULATION AS AN ADJUNCT IN BREAST-CONSERVING SURGERY

The development of a haematoma after wide excision of breast tumours i s not uncommon. Suction drainage is commonly used to prevent this but often increases the hospital stay and can create unsightly wounds. Arg on beam coagulation is a new technique which permits large 'raw' areas to be coagulated with minimal tissue damage. We believe that this tec hnique may reduce the development of haematomas and seromas after brea st surgery. We present our initial results using argon beam coagulatio n after wide excision of breast tumours in 80 patients without suction drainage. One patient required a single aspiration of a seroma at the site of breast lump excision and none required surgical drainage. Arg on beam coagulation appears a useful adjunct in breast surgery and may help reduce hospital stay.