Correlation between the Properties of Excised Axillary Lymph Nodes and the Drain Output after a Modified Radical Mastectomy: a Retrospective Study

Karanth VK, Karanth SK and Karanth TK

Department of General Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, India

^*Correspondance to: Karanth VK 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1769

Abstract

Introduction: Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy can only commence at the end of postoperative drainage. We evaluated whether the extent of lymph node excision or tumor infiltration is predictive of the postoperative drain output and duration.Methods: We reviewed the records of patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma over a period of 3 years and identified 342 cases for possible inclusion in our analysis. We finally included 151 cases in the study and assessed this population for demographic parameters, postoperative drain amount, number of drains in situ, number of lymph nodes dissected, and the extent of tumor infiltration.Results: The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.16 for lymph nodes dissected (regardless of cancer involvement) and total drain output, 0.05 for drain duration; 0.02 for lymph nodes infiltrated by tumor cells and the total drain amount, and -0.05 for the number of days of drain.Conclusion: Although postoperative drain is a result of lymph node dissection during surgery, there is no correlation between the number of lymph nodes involved or dissected and the drain duration or output.

Keywords

Drain output; Breast cancer; Mastectomy

Cite the article

Karanth VK, Karanth SK, Karanth TK. Correlation between the Properties of Excised Axillary Lymph Nodes and the Drain Output after a Modified Radical Mastectomy: a Retrospective Study. Clin Surg. 2017; 2: 1769.