Improving seroma related outcomes after breast cancer surgery

Seroma is a collection of serous fluid that accumulates under the skin, often after a surgical procedure. Seroma can cause pain and patient discomfort and can lead to wound complications such as surgical site infections (SSI’s), wound dehiscence and skin flap necrosis. When adverse events occur, additional out-patient clinic visits are generally required to treat seroma related complications. Depending on the severity of the complications, seroma aspiration or even surgical intervention may be necessary. Seroma may also have impact on quality of life of the patients or on societal level. Obliteration of the dead space that forms after mastectomy is assumed to be key in reducing seroma formation. Closing the dead space by means of flap fixation is one of the possible ways to achieve this. It is also believed that closed vacuum drainage prevents seroma formation. This thesis elaborates on the value of flap fixation and closed vacuum drainage with respect to seroma formation after mastectomy.