Impact of the surgical modality for axillary lymph node dissection on postoperative drainage and seroma formation after total mastectomy

Table 4 Logistic regression in relation to prolonged fluid discharge after total mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection

Factor	Odds ratio	p-value *<0.05
Body mass index < 25 vs ≧25	2.54 (1.08–5.96)	0.033*
Specimen weight < 400 g vs ≧400 g	0.83 (0.35–1.93)	0.66
Tumor size < 30 mm vs ≧30 mm	0.75 (0.34–1.65)	0.47
Level of axillary lymph node dissection Ax I vs II vs III	1.34 (0.72–2.48)	0.35
Number of axillary lymph nodes dissected < 15 vs ≧15	1.02 (0.46–2.27)	0.97
Number of metastatic lymph nodes = 0 vs ≧1	1.11 (0.48–2.58)	0.81
Drainage volume during 1 week < 500 ml vs ≧500 ml	4.25 (1.55–11.60)	0.005*
Surgical modality: Group D vs Group A vs Group B	1.86 (1.06–3.26)	0.03*

Prolonged fluid discharge: prolonged drainage or seroma formation after the 20th operative day or later
Group D: skin flap formation by electrocautery and axillary lymph node dissection by picking up using forceps and ligation (Surgeon D)
Group A: skin flap formation by electrocautery and axillary lymph node dissection by electrocautery with ligation of the arteries and veins (Surgeons A, C and E)
Group B: skin flap formation by electrocautery and axillary lymph node dissection by ultrasonic dissector without ligating the vessels (Surgeon B)

ISSN: 1754-9493