ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Seroma is the most significant complication after mastectomy and the objective of this study is the determination of early wound complications rate for breast cancer surgery and the risk factors predisposing to these complications.

METHODS:

257 patients that had been operated with modified radical mastectomy were evaluated for seroma formation, skin flap necrosis and wound infection. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors.

RESULTS:

Seroma developed in 80(31.1%) patients, wound infection and skin flap necrosis developed in 19(7.3%) and 29(11.2%) patients respectively. Obesity (OR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.45-8.02), peroperative blood transfusion (OR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.45-5.48) and amount of total drainage more than 1000 ml. (OR: 7.54, 95% CI: 2.52-15.80) were significantly associated with seroma formation. The significant risk factors for flap necrosis were age older than 50 years (OR: 4.36, 95% CI: 1.80-9.72), smoking (OR: 2.94, 95%CI: 1.16-7.42) and seroma formation (OR: 2,81 95% CI: 1.12-5.20); for wound infection were prolonged operation more than 180 minutes (OR: 2.74, 95%CI: 1.06-7.16) and seroma formation (OR: 4.62, 95% CI: 1.56-11.02).

CONCLUSION:

Seroma was the most significant complication and predictive for wound infection and skin flap necrosis.