COMPARISON OF THE FREQUENCY OF SEROMA DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN DEAD SPACE CLOSURE WITH QUILTING SUTURES VERSUS WITHOUT QUILTING SUTURES AFTER BREAST SURGERY

Abstract

Objective: To compare the frequency of seroma development between dead space closure with quilting sutures versus without
quilting sutures after breast cancer surgery in CMH Rawalpindi.
Study Design: Quasi-experimental.
Place and duration of Study: Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, 01 year (May 2020 to May 2021).
Methodology: A Total of 60 patients, subjected to either simple mastectomy or a modified radical procedure for breast cancer, were
included in the study. Patients who had undergone breast conservation surgery and advanced breast carcinoma were excluded.
Randomisation by lottery was used to allocate patients into two groups: Group A, comprising 30 females who received quilting
sutures for dead space obliteration, and Group B, of 30 females who did not receive quilting sutures after breast surgery. Seroma
formation on the 7th postoperative day was noted.
Results: The overall age range of participants was 35-50 years with a mean age of 42.25 ± 2.83 years. In our study, the frequency of
seroma formation in the dead space closure with quilting sutures group was found in 05 (16.67%) vs 20 (66.67%) patients without
the quilting sutures group (p=0.0001).
Conclusion: This study found that the frequency of seroma development is less after dead space closure with quilting sutures as
compared to without quilting sutures.
Keywords: Modified radical mastectomy, Quilting sutures, Seroma