Can Gentamicin-collagen Sponges Prevent Seroma Formation Following Mastectomy?

• Published in: Clinical breast cancer 2018-10, Vol.18 (5), p.e1023-e1026
• Main Authors: ten Wolde, Britt, van den Wildenberg, Frits J.H., Polat, Fatih, de Wilt, Johannes H.W., Strobbe, Luc J.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Axillary lymph node dissection; Breast cancer surgery; Garacol; Surgical site infections; Wound complications
• ISSN: 1526-8209; 1938-0666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2018.02.011

A retrospective cohort study was performed and showed that gentamicin-collagen sponges significantly lower the seroma incidence following breast cancer surgery. The incidence of surgical site infections was halved, although this was not significant. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gentamicin-collagen (GC) sponges can lower the incidence of seroma and surgical site infections following breast cancer surgery. A retrospective cohort study was performed. Two consecutive cohorts of patients who underwent a mastectomy with or without an axillary lymph node dissection were compared. The first cohort was treated conventionally (n = 38), the second cohort received GC sponges (n = 39). Endpoints were the incidence of clinical significant seroma (CSS) and surgical site infections (SSI), the mean number of aspirations, and the mean aspirated volume. GC sponges lowered the CSS incidence from 73.7% to 38.5% (P = .002). The mean number of aspirations and the mean aspirated volume were not affected. SSI incidence was 15.8% in the conventional cohort compared with 7.7% in the GC cohort (P = .23). Application of GC sponges significantly lowered the incidence of CSS. The incidence of SSI was halved, although this was not significant.