Effects of Quilting Suture Interval on Donor Site Seromas After Breast Reconstruction With Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flap: A Randomized Trial

We evaluated the effects of different intervals of quilting sutures on the postoperative drainage volume and components of seroma fluid. Performing quilting sutures on latissimus dorsi flap donor sites is effective in reducing postoperative seromas. The results of the present study showed the 6-cm suture interval to be appropriate. Background Although breast reconstruction using a deep inferior artery perforator flap has been increasing, using a latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle flap is still the favored method for Asian female patients with breast cancer. However, because the incidence of donor site seromas has been relatively high, a quilting method on the donor cavity or insertion of drainage tube has been used to reduce the incidence and/or severity of postoperative seroma. We evaluated the effects of different intervals of quilting sutures on the postoperative drainage volume and components of seroma fluid. Patients and Methods A total of 36 patients with breast cancer underwent partial or total mastectomy with LD flap reconstruction. They were randomized into 3 groups according to the interval of quilting sutures: nonquilting (n = 10), 6-cm quilting (n = 14), and 3-cm quilting (n = 12). The clinicopathologic factors and time to drain removal, drainage volume, frequency of aspiration, and serous fluid components were investigated. Results No statistically significant differences were found in the clinicopathologic factors among the 3 groups. The time to drain removal was significantly shorter in the 6-cm quilting and 3-cm quilting groups than in the nonquilting group (P = .039 and P = .041, respectively). The total volume of drainage from the donor site was also decreased in the quilting groups (6-cm group, P = .046; 3-cm group, P = .021). The seroma components were not different among the 3 groups. Conclusion Performing quilting sutures on LD flap donor sites is an effective method to reduce the volume of postoperative seroma. The present findings showed that a 6-cm suture interval is appropriate.