Draining after breast reduction: a randomised controlled inter-patient study

• Published in: Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery Vol. 62; no. 7; pp. 865 - 868
• Main Authors: Corion, Leonard U.M, Smeulders, Mark J.C, van Zuijlen, Paul P.M, van der Horst, Chantal M.A.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Breast reduction; Complication; Drain; Drainage - adverse effects; Drainage - instrumentation; Female; Hospital stay; Humans; Length of Stay; Mammaplasty; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control; Patient Satisfaction; Plastic Surgery; Postoperative Period; Prospective Studies; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Wound Infection - prevention & control; Wound Healing; Young Adult; Complication; Breast reduction; Drain; Hospital stay; Human; Reduction; Treatment; Surgery; Breast; Mammary gland; Hospital
• ISSN: 1748-6815; 1878-0539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2008.01.009

Summary One hundred and seven bilateral breast reductions were prospectively randomised during surgery to receive or not receive wound drains. Fifty-five patients were randomised to have a drain and 52 to not have a drain. There was no statistical difference in the number of complications between the drained and undrained group ( P = 0.092; student's t -test for independent observations). Twenty-two of the 55 patients in the drained group had a complication, 12 of the 52 patients in the undrained group had a complication. The hospital stay was significantly shorter ( P < 0.001) in the undrained group. The main discomfort score due to the presence of the drains was 5.62, which can be qualified as high. This study demonstrates that breast reduction without postoperative draining does not increase the risk of complications, increases the patient's comfort and significantly reduces hospital stay.