SynthesisAnnals of surgical oncology2022
Impact of Quilting Sutures on Surgical Outcomes After Mastectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Annals of surgical oncology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- Quilting sutures versus conventional closure after modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with pre-specified subgroups by quilting extent.World journal of surgical oncology · 2026Pooled it
- The significance of perioperative glucocorticoids in the prevention of seroma formation after mastectomies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Breast cancer research and treatment · 2025Pooled it
- Small-bites versus large-bites closure of midline laparotomies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland · 2025Pooled it
- Frailty Increases Morbidity and Mortality in Patients Undergoing Oncological Liver Resections: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Annals of surgical oncology · 2024Pooled it
- Laparoscopic versus open resection of primary colorectal cancers and synchronous liver metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of colorectal disease · 2023Pooled it
- Conservative surgery versus colorectal resection for endometriosis with rectal involvement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical and long-term outcomes.International journal of colorectal disease · 2023Pooled it
- Quilt technique after mastectomy: stepped-wedge randomized cluster trial showing superior textbook outcome and reduced healthcare utilization.The British journal of surgery · 2025Trial
- Value of using ultrasonic shears in reducing seroma formation after axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer patients.Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute · 2024Trial
- Impact of Topical Epinephrine with Xylocaine on Drainage After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: A Randomized Controlled Trial.World journal of surgery · 2023Trial
- Efficacy and aesthetic outcomes for quilting sutures in the prevention of seroma after mastectomy.Scientific reports · 2023Trial
- Impact of Intravenous Tranexamic Acid on Postoperative Complications in Gender-Affirming Mastectomy: A Focus on Drain Output and Duration.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026Article
- Strategies to prevent seroma formation after mastectomy surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.JPRAS open · 2026Review
- An original flap fixation technique with suturing to the fascia of serratus anterior for reducing seroma after mastectomy: a single-center retrospective study.Surgery today · 2026Article
- From Evidence to Practice: Quilting for Seroma Prevention After Mastectomy and Surgeons' Acceptance.Cureus · 2025Article
- Current use of drains and management of seroma following mastectomy and axillary surgery: results of a United Kingdom national practice survey.Breast cancer research and treatment · 2024Article
- Effect of different quilting techniques on seroma formation after breast surgery: retrospective study.BJS open · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSeroma after mastectomy and/or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is among the most common issue surgeons have to face in the early postoperative management of breast cancer. Using quilting sutures (QS) to aid in tissue approximation and decrease dead space is proposed as a simple technique to reduce seroma rate. We aimed to perform a systematic review, and analyse, in a meta-analytical model, the role of QS in improving wound outcomes and decrease volume, duration of drainage, and length of stay in hospital.
methodsThe study was registered with PROSPERO. A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases was performed for all comparative studies examining surgical outcomes in patients who underwent QS versus conventional closure (CC) after mastectomy ± ALND.
resultsTwenty-one studies with a total of 3473 patients (1736 in the study group and 1737 in the control group) were included based on the selection criteria. The study group showed significantly lower rates of seroma (p < 0.00001), total volume of drainage (p < 0.0001), days to drain removal (p < 0.00001), and length of stay (p < 0.00001) compared with the control group, while wound complication rates (surgical site infection, flap necrosis, hematoma, skin dimpling) were comparable between the two groups.
conclusionsQS are a reliable intraoperative technique that decrease seroma formation, volume of postoperative drainage, duration of drainage and length of hospital stay, and should be considered in mastectomies with or without ALND.
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