A study of factors influencing seroma formation after modified radical mastectomy

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Seroma, is the most frequent post operative complication after breast cancer surgery/modified radical mastectomy (MRM), developing in approximately 30% of cases. The pathophysiology and mechanism of seroma formation in breast cancer surgery remains controversial and not fully understood, as little attention has been paid in the literature to etiologic factors. To prevent seroma formation, it is important to estimate individual risk of seroma formation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To establish an association between various risk factors of seroma formation and to know whether the risk factors act independently or by synergism. METHODS: Patients with breast cancer undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy were included in the study. The proportions were compared using Chi-square test of significance and the student ‟t” test was used to determ ine the statistical difference. The data was analyzed using SPSS package. RESULTS: 16 out of 50 patients, accounting for 32 percent, developed seroma. compared to patients without seroma formation. 15 of 16 patients who had developed seroma were hypertensive, accounting for 68.2%, pvalue was significant 0.001. The mean BMI in seroma patients was 26.16 +1.79(21.30-28.40), p value was significant 0.001. The mean drain output on pod 1 was 200.3+ 36.44 in seroma group, p value was 0.032. Mean drain removal day was 15.50 + 1.82 (13-19), p value was 0.036 in seroma group. Other variables studied had no statistical significance with respect to seroma formation. CONCLUSION: The factors influencing seroma formation following modified radical mastectomy for carcinoma breast were found to be Hypertension and BMI, having a significant association for seroma formation