Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41201612›Full record

Observational studyAesthetic plastic surgery2026

Prevention of Seroma Formation in Abdominoplasty with Absorbable Running Barbed Arch Suture (ARBAS) Technique.

Agostino Bruno, Mauro Barbera, Matteo Cilluffo, Marco Schirosi

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Agostino BrunoSanta Maria di Leuca Clinic, Via Tiberina 173, 00188, Rome, Italy. dott.agostinobruno@gmail.com.ORCID 0009-0005-9046-9201
Mauro BarberaUniversità Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Unità di Chirurgia Plastica - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.Gemelli IRCSS, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
Matteo CilluffoUniversità degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
Marco SchirosiSanta Maria di Leuca Clinic, Via Tiberina 173, 00188, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAbdominoplasty is a widely performed cosmetic procedure aimed at improving abdominal contour and function. Seroma formation, with an incidence of approximately 10.9%, remains a common and challenging complication. Traditional preventive measures like suction drains and progressive tension sutures (PTS) are effective but can increase operative time and patient discomfort. To address these limitations, the Absorbable Running Barbed Arch Suture (ARBAS) technique was introduced, aiming to simplify wound closure while preventing fluid accumulation.

objectiveTo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the ARBAS technique in preventing seroma formation and its impact on operative time and recovery.

methodsA retrospective observational study was conducted on 74 patients who underwent abdominoplasty with or without rectus diastasis repair between April 2021 and May 2023. All surgeries were performed by a single senior surgeon using the ARBAS technique. The primary endpoint was seroma incidence; secondary endpoints included drainage volume, duration of drainage, and total operative time.

resultsNo postoperative seromas were observed. Average drainage volume decreased from 36 ml on day one to 19 ml on day two, allowing early drain removal within 48 hours for most patients. The ARBAS technique added only 8 minutes to the operative time-significantly less than PTS. No major complications, such as infection, hematoma, or flap necrosis, were reported.

conclusionThe ARBAS technique is a safe and efficient method for seroma prevention in abdominoplasty. It shortens operative time compared to traditional methods, supports faster recovery, and enhances patient comfort. Further multicenter studies are recommended to validate these results and promote its widespread adoption. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors  www.springer.com/00266 .

Indexed as

AbdominoplastyPostoperative ComplicationsSeromaSuturesSuture TechniquesAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOperative TimeRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAbdominoplastyAesthetic surgeryARBAS techniqueBarbed suturesPostoperative recoverySeroma prevention

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.