“No Drain, No Gain”: Simultaneous Seroma Drainage and Tissue Expansion in Pre-pectoral Tissue Expander-Based Breast Reconstruction

Abstract

Seromas represent the most frequent complication following immediate breast reconstruction surgery, in particular when acellular dermal matrix or synthetic meshes are used to add coverage to implants. Little information regarding breast seroma management is available in the literature. When seroma becomes clinically significant, current methods for its management consist of repeated needle aspiration. We report a fast, efficient, easy and riskless technique to perform serum aspiration in patients who underwent breast reconstruction with a tissue expander that allows simultaneous drainage and expansion of the implant at once. This procedure is safe, painless, does not need special supplies or additional costs and can be easily performed in ambulatory setting to manage breast seromas.Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Controlateral Symmetrisation in SRM for Breast Cancer: Now or Then? Immediate versus Delayed Symmetrisation in a Two-Stage Breast Reconstruction

“…We did not find significant differences in the analysis of the clinical outcomes between the two groups in the study or between these populations and the ones reported in the literature [ 19 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. In two cases, a reintervention was required for implant exposure: one in the symmetrisation group and one in the immediate group.…”

Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy with the Use of an Implant and Serratus Anterior Fascia Flap—Initial Clinical Evaluation

“…The mean follow-up period was 17.45 months (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). Patient ages ranged between 37-62 (mean 48) and the average BMI was 26 (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). The average time of postoperative permanence drain was 15 days.…”

“…We believe that at the time of US evaluation, the rate of fibrous capsule on the conjoined fascia-capsula thickness was similar to a normal fibrous capsule. In addition, it is well known that disinsertion of sterno-costal fibers of PMM in breast surgery tipically bring to muscular atrophy of the lower parts covering the implant [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Knabben et al [38] reported a significative decrease in the thickness of the PMM using standardized US periodical measurements.…”

An unusual case of late hematoma after implant-based breast reconstruction mimicking an anaplastic large cell lymphoma: a case report and literature review

“…Late seroma is defined as a serous accumulation of periprosthetic exudate or effusion within the implant capsule, which appears at least 12 months after the implantation. It is a rare entity with an incidence of 0.88-1.84%, while earlier seroma represents a more common complication [42][43][44].…”