A Comparative Study of Drainage of Breast Abscesses by Conventional Incision and Drainage vs Ultrasound-Guided Needle Aspiration/Re-Aspiration in A Tertiary Health Care Centre.

objectiveBreast abscesses are localized purulent collections, often arising from bacterial mastitis, and pose significant health risks, especially for lactating women. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and outcomes of two different treatment approaches: Traditional incision and drainage (I&D) versus ultrasound (USG)-guided aspiration in breast abscess management. MATERIALS AND

methodsFifty female patients with breast abscesses were enrolled and divided into two groups: Group A (n = 25, I&D) and group B (n = 25, USG-guided aspiration). Group A underwent I&D under general anaesthesia and group B underwent USG-guided aspiration under local anaesthesia. The patients were followed up for two weeks after the procedure. Patient demographics, abscess characteristics, treatment outcomes, and complications were analyzed.

resultsThe mean age of patients was 36.4 and 31.8 in group A and B, respectively and the mean abscess size was 5.7 cm. The study found that USG-guided aspiration was associated with several advantages over I&D. Patients in group B experienced shorter healing times (5 days vs. 13 days,

conclusionThese results highlight that USG-guided aspiration offers a minimally invasive and effective method for managing breast abscesses, leading to quicker recovery, better cosmetic outcomes, and higher patient satisfaction compared to the traditional I&D approach. Early diagnosis and intervention with USG-guided aspiration can prevent complications and reduce the need for open surgery. Based on these findings, USG-guided aspiration is a safer and more efficient method for treating breast abscesses, particularly when initiated promptly after diagnosis.