A comparison of 5-day and 8-day drainage following mastectomy and axillaryclearance

Aims: Mastectomy and axillary clearance are standard operations for the tre atment of breast carcinoma. Drainage of the mastectomy site and axilla is o ften required to allow accumulating blood and inflammatory fluids to escape . However, there is a lack of data relating to how long suction drains shou ld stay in situ after major breast surgery. In our study we have tried to a ddress this deficit by comparing the efficacy of 5-day post-operative drain age with 8-day post-operative drainage. Methods: Patients requiring mastectomy and axillary clearance were randomiz ed to having drains removed on day 5 or day 8 post-operatively, The number of lymphoceles, aspirations and total aspiration volumes in chest and axill ary drains were compared. Results: From a total of 121 patients enrolled into the study, 64 patients were randomized to the 5-day group and 57 to the 8-day group. There were si gnificant differences regarding the number of aspirations and total aspirat ion volumes in chest and axillary drains between the two groups, favouring 8-day drainage. However the number of lymphoceles drained in the 5-day grou p was significantly higher than the 8-day group. Conclusions: Five-day post-operative drainage is as safe as 8-day post-oper ative drainage in the management of patients undergoing major breast surger y, but results in an increase in lymphocele aspiration and aspiration volum e. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.