ArticleBreast cancer (Tokyo, Japan)2026
"Safety and efficacy of early drain removal in breast reconstruction: a retrospective cohort study".
Article in Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- A randomized controlled trial: application of inactivatedGland surgery · 2026Article
- Postoperative Drainage Output as an Early Postoperative Marker Associated with Unplanned Revision After Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Optimizing perioperative care in autologous breast reconstruction: a narrative review.Gland surgery · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundClosed-suction drains are routinely used in breast reconstruction, but evidence regarding early removal remains limited. This study evaluated whether early drain removal affects local wound complications.
methodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent breast reconstruction with tissue expanders (TE), implants, or autologous tissue between January 2019 and August 2024. Patients were divided into two groups: a volume-based group (drains removed when output < 30 mL/24 h) and an early-removal group (drains removed within 4 days postoperatively). Incidences of seroma, surgical site infection (SSI), and implant removal within one year postoperatively were compared.
resultsA total of 265 reconstructions in 241 patients were analyzed (134 volume-based, 131 early-removal). Seroma incidence was similar between groups. However, SSI occurred significantly less frequently in the early-removal group than in the volume-based group (21/134 (15.7%) vs. 9/131 (6.9%), p = 0.032). This reduction was evident only in TE/implant-based reconstructions. Multivariable analysis identified early drain removal as an independent protective factor against SSI (OR, 0.316; p = 0.015).
conclusionsEarly drain removal within 4 days does not increase seroma risk and is associated with a significantly lower SSI rate in TE/implant-based breast reconstruction. These findings suggest early drain removal is both safe and beneficial in selected patients.
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Registered trials
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