Quilting following mastectomy reduces seroma, associated complications and health care consumption without impairing patient comfort.

backgroundAn important complication following mastectomy is seroma formation. Quilting, in which skin flaps are sutured to the underlying muscle, is reported to reduce seroma incidence, but might induce pain and impair shoulder function. Main objective is to compare quilting with conventional wound closure, regarding seroma incidence, health care consumption, and patient discomfort.

methodsIn a combined prospective and retrospective study, 254 patients undergoing mastectomy and/or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) were included. Patients received quilting sutures or conventional closure. Primary outcome was clinical significant seroma (CSS). In prospectively included patients shoulder function and analgesic use was observed.

resultsCSS incidence was 12.9% in the quilted versus 62.3% in the nonquilted cohort (p < 0.001). Surgical site infections were reported significantly less in the quilted cohort. Duration of hospital stay was shorter and outpatient clinic visits were less in the quilted cohort. Surgical procedure required 10 additional minutes for quilting. No significant differences were observed in postoperative shoulder function and analgesic use.

conclusionQuilting following mastectomy reduces CSS incidence. Quilting requires 10 additional minutes during surgery. It facilitates day treatment and results in less additional outpatient clinic visits culminating in reduced health care consumption. Shoulder function and pain are not affected by quilting.