Comparison between ultrasound-guided aspiration performed using an intravenous cannula or a conventional needle in patients with peri-prosthetic seroma

Background:Peri-prosthetic seroma after implant insertion for breast reconstruction is a common but difficult-to-manage complication. This study aimed to compare peri-prosthetic seroma duration and the number of aspirations associated with intravenous cannula with those associated with conventional needle.Methods:Seventy-one patients who underwent skin- or nipple-sparing mastectomy and implant insertion were treated for peri-prosthetic seroma. When peri-prosthetic seroma was detected, ultrasound-guided aspiration was performed either by using an intravenous cannula (n=35) or a conventional needle (n=36); however, the method adopted was randomly selected. We analyzed the participants' clinicopathologic factors after medical record review.Results:There were no significant intergroup differences in mean age (P=.052), mean body mass index (P=.601), total clinical tumor size (P=.107), pathologic tumor size (P=.269), specimen weight (P=.147), implant size (P=.313), or operation time (P=.595). However, the mean total peri-prosthetic seroma volume was significantly higher (105.80 vs 88.58, P=.015) but the number of aspirations was lower (4.48 vs 5.80, P=.043) in the intravenous cannula group than in the conventional needle group. Mean peri-prosthetic seroma volume per aspiration was nonsignificantly higher in the intravenous cannula group (26.92 vs 19.14, P=.291).Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided aspiration performed using an intravenous cannula was comparable to the procedure performed using a conventional needle. Furthermore, the former method can be safer and effective alternative to manage peri-prosthetic seroma.