Seroma after mastectomy with lymph node dissection

I had a mastectomy on January 22nd 2008.  Had drain placed in chest wall area which was removed on February 14th.  Had 8 needle aspirations over 3 weeks as high as 250 cc tapering to 130 cc.  Had drain reinserted for 3 weeks and chemotherapy started with only 1 drug (Herceptin for HER2 positive cancer).  Drainage went as high as 180 cc daily.  Drain was removed and in a few days must be reinserted.  I have lost hope and feel I will have a drain in permanently.  Is there any way I can get help to move this fluid through my body?  I need to have full course chemotherapy but can't until the drain is out and healed.


This discussion is related to Seroma.

[kumara]

I have no medical background, but did experience a similar thing after a mastectomy. A drain was reinserted and it took about 4 weeks for my body to adjust, then it was finally removed. I found that rest and keeping the arm on the mastectomy side elevated and gentle massage helped quite a bit. Like you I felt despair that I would have this drain in forever. Can only say with my experience, your body will adjust, and my best wishes to you.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

A seroma usually takes days to weeks to resolve spontaneously, but in some rare cases it does take months too.

You should follow up with your surgeon regularly and get a clinical examination done to evaluate whether a needle aspiration or drain is required and if so, when.

Let us know about how you are doing and if you have any other doubts.

Post us on what your surgeon advises.

Hope this helps.

Regards.

[MovinSue]

Does anyone have any experience with surgical repair of a seroma post-surgery?  I have heard of "quilting" the surgical area during surgery to prevent a seroma.  Is there anyone surgically padding the seroma space as a "revision" months after surgery?

Case in point:  63 yo male with lymphadenectomy 9/07 still suffering pain, swelling and weekly aspirations since then.  Self-managed aspirations for a period of time with fluid pressures so high that office aspirations not needed.  Cellulitis with two ER visits and now, a drain reintroduced to the area.  Pain level is high and requires narcotic pain management.  Skin is reddened, sloughing off and has an "elephant hide" texture.  We are looking for better -perhaps creative-medical answers to this situation.

[MovinSue]

Followup to situation of intractable seroma in 63 yo male;  a second drain was placed in the axilla for 3 months and the drainage slowly reduced and then stopped.  The drain was removed and no further drainage has been noted.  It just resolved all by itself!  Total time for drain placement was almost 1 year  (2 separate drain placements) with an additional 2 months of messy and annoying manual draining.