Closed Suction Drainage Versus Closed Simple Drainage in the Management of Modified Radical Mastectomy Wounds (Original Articles) (Clinical Report‪)‬

Since the first mastectomy was performed for carcinoma of the breast, management of the resulting large wound has always posed problems. Of the measures employed to manage mastectomy wounds, closed suction wound drainage has been accepted as the most effective in reducing morbidity. (1,2) However, suction drains are expensive and out of reach of many surgeons in developing countries where open and closed simple drains are in common use. Whereas open drains have been shown to be inferior to both closed suction and closed simple drains, (2-4) no study has shown that suction is a necessity in mastectomy drains. A study that compared closed drains with and without suction suggested that there were no significant differences in their performance. (5) Our aim was to compare the outcomes of modified radical mastectomy wounds managed by either closed suction drainage or closed simple drainage. The outcomes measured were the frequency and severity of complications directly or indirectly related to fluid collection and drainage in mastectomy wounds; the overall cost of wound management by each drainage system; particular problems of each drainage system; and nursing problems.