Is discharge home with drains after breast surgery producing satisfactory outcomes?

Aim: To assess whether discharging patients after breast cancer surgery with drains in situ and specialist nurse support is producing satisfactory outcomes.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective study assessing outcome subjectively and objectively in patients treated at the Breast Unit. The full population of patients (124) operated for breast cancer and discharged with drains in situ, comprising 84 mastectomies and 40 wide local excisions with axillary clearance (WLE).