Comparative study of conventional incision and drainage versus percutaneous placement of suction drain: changing trend of breast abscess management

Abstract

Background: We present a comparative study of conventional incision and drainage vs minimally invasive percutaneously placed suction catheter in patients of puerperal breast abscess. The aim was to develop an effective technique for management of breast abscess giving less morbidity and its efficacy over conventional method.

Methods: Sample size was 100 patients of age ranged from 18 to 34 years and duration July 2013 to July 2015, which was divided in two groups of 50 patients each. First group was treated by incision and drainage and second by percutaneous suction drainage, selection of patients was on alternate basis. Informed consent was taken from each patient before procedure. In suction drain placement procedure under local, 0.5% lignocaine with adrenaline, infiltration anesthesia16F suction catheter was placed percutaneously in abscess cavity for 3-5 days.

Results: There was complete resolution of symptoms in all patients however healing time was significantly less in aspiration group (5 to 10 days) as compared with surgical drainage (9-19 days). There was 1 (2%) patient in drain group who required conversion to open surgical drainage. There were 2 cases presented with fistula out of 50 Incision and drainage patients. Breast feeding/ emptying was not interrupted in any patient of this minimally invasive method.

Conclusions: This technique is technically safer, effective, very less painful, cosmetically more promising and healing is quicker in this technique compare to conventional incision and drainage.