[Treatment of breast abscess. An analysis of patient material and implementation of recommendations].

Introduction: Several options for treatment of abscesses in the breast have appeared during the last two decades. No randomised studies comparing these options have been performed.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study of the treatment of breast abscesses over a four-year-period. Incision or puncture was employed at the discretion of the responsible doctor.

Results: A total of 87 women with various types of breast abscesses were treated by means of incision (42 women equal to 48%) or aspiration of pus by puncture (45 women equal to 52%). After incision which was done in general anaesthesia in 38 women (90%) the patients were discharged after 2.9 days (mean), median 2.0 days, and 39 of 45 women treated by means of puncture were discharged after 2.1 days (mean), median 1.0 day, p = 0.001. In six women, puncture treatment was possible as outpatient procedure. Concerning puncture the majority of patients were treated in local analgesia or without any medication. Recurrent abscess formation was observed in eight women (19%) after incision and in nine women (20%) after puncture.

Discussion: The two treatment schedules are effective, but abscess treatment by means of puncture is preferred as the most convenient method for the patient and as a cost-effective treatment. Finally, recommendations for the future schedule of breast absess treatment are specified.