Tumescent technique in modified radical mastectomy - Does it differ?

Abstract

Ahmed Abdellatif Abdelkader, Ahmed Elsayed Abdelmageed, Ahmed Tarek Fouad Awad

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, accounting for approximately 26% of all incident cancers among women. Surgery is the main treatment of breast cancer either breast conserving surgery (BCS) or modified radical mastectomy (MRM). The aim of this study is to compare between the effect of using the tumescent technique and the conventional electrocautery technique in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM).Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 60 female patients admitted to the Surgical Oncology Unit, Alexan-dria Main University Hospital, and were indicated to modified radical mastectomy (MRM) during a period from April 2014 till October 2015, the patients were randomly divided into two equal groups; group A (30 patients had MRM in which the tumescent fluid is injected to help elevation of the skin flaps using the scalpel or scissors), and group B (30 patients had MRM using the electrocautery during the procedure).Results and Conclusions: It was found that tumescent technique may provide a safe alternative method to electrocautery technique causing easier dissection of tissues without direct thermal injury. It significantly decreases the operative time and the time needed for raising the skin flaps. In addition, it significantly decreases the amount of intra-operative bleeding and the amount of seroma in the drain post-operative leading to early removal of the drain.