Original Paper

Prevention of Lymphorrhea by Means of Fibrin Glue after Axillary Lymphadenectomy in Breast Cancer: Prospective Randomized Trial
F.N. Gilly^a, Y. François^a,b, A.C. Sayag-Beaujard^b,c, O. Glehen^b, A. Brachet^b, J. Vignal<sup>a,b

a</sup> Department of Surgery, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Bénite,
^b Laboratoire Recherche Oncologie, Université Lyon-1, Oullins, and
^c Department of Anesthesiology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre-Bénite, France

Address of Corresponding Author

Eur Surg Res 1998;30:439-443 (DOI: 10.1159/000008611)

  Key Words

• Fibrin glue
• Lymphadenectomy
• Breast cancer
• Seroma

  Abstract

A prospective randomized trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of fibrin glue in preventing lymphorrhea after axillary lymphadenectomy in breast cancer. One hundred and eight breast cancer patients, operated on by two senior surgeons, were randomized into two groups: group 1 (n = 58) without fibrin glue and group 2 (n = 50) with 2 ml of fibrin glue applied to the axillary dissection area at the end of the lymphadenectomy procedure. Early postoperative morbidity was 2/58 and 0/50 in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Mean daily postoperative drainage was significantly greater in group 1. The mean cumulative drainage quantity 6 days after the operation was 407.8 ml and 214.4 ml in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.001). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 10.1 days and 8.0 days in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.006). One delayed seroma was observed in each group. Fibrin glue seems to reduce daily postoperative drainage and hospital stay, but did not affect delayed seroma formation after axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer.

  Author Contacts

Prof. F.N. Gilly MD
Department of Surgery, CHLS
F-69495, Lyon Pierre-Bénite Cedex (France)
Tel. +33 4 78 86 13 75, Fax +33 4 78 86 33 43
E-Mail francogi@uheim.univ-lyon1.fr

  Article Information

Received: Received: January 23, 1998
Accepted: April 1, 1998
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 18