Effect of different quilting techniques on seroma formation after breast surgery: retrospective study.

Background: Quilting, a technique in which skin flaps are sutured to the underlying muscle, reduces seroma after mastectomy and/or axillary lymph node dissection. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different quilting techniques on the formation of clinically significant seroma.

Methods: This was a retrospective study including patients undergoing mastectomy and/or axillary lymph node dissection.

DIEAP Flap Breast Reconstruction Followed by Local Recurrence of Breast Cancer.

Local recurrence after an autologous breast reconstruction is uncommon. We describe 2 patients with local recurrence 3 and 9 years, respectively, after mastectomy with DIEAP (deep inferior epigastric artery perforator) flap breast reconstruction. Patients generally present with a palpable mass, pain, or other visible abnormalities.

Quilting prevents seroma formation following breast cancer surgery: closing the dead space by quilting prevents seroma following axillary lymph node dissection and mastectomy.

Background: Seroma is a frequent problem after mastectomy (ME) and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Seroma is associated with pain, discomfort, impaired mobilisation and repeated aspirations, often resulting in a surgical site infection (SSI). It has already been demonstrated that minimizing dead space through fixation of the skin flaps to the underlying muscles (quilting) lowers the incidence of seroma.

Chest tube management following pulmonary lobectomy: change of protocol results in fewer air leaks.

Much controversy exists regarding the management of chest tubes following pulmonary lobectomy. The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of a new chest tube management protocol on clinical features, such as postoperative air leak, drain characteristics, 30-day postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. We retrospectively analysed 133 patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomy, from January 2005 to December 2008.