Drainage Followed by Primary Closure with Suction Drain Versus Drainage Only in the Treatment of Breast Abscess

Abstract

Background: Breast abscess is a common inflammatory condition among young lactating women. Although initial stages of breast abscess can be managed with antibiotics, surgery may be required in advanced stages in the form of incision and drainage with or without placement of a surgical drain. There are various methods for the treatment of breast abscesses. Objectives: To compare the outcome of drainage followed by primary closure with suction drain and drainage only in the treatment of breast asbscess. Methods: A total of 74 diagnosed cases of lactational breast abscess who underwent surgery were included in this prospective observational study. The patients were divided into two groups, 37 patients who underwent primary closure with suction drain were considered as group- A and the rest 37 patients who underwent drainage only were considered as group-B. Diagnosed cases of lactational breast abscess who underwent drainage of the abscess by either of the two above-mentioned methods were enrolled in this study. Statistical analyses of the results were obtained by using windows-based computer software Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS-22). Results: The mean age was 24.16±4.02 years in group-A and 23.27±3.63 years in group-B. More than half (54.1%) patients were primipara in group-A and 24(64.9 %) in group-B. More than half (56.8%) patients had S. aureus in pus culture in group-A and 28(75.7%) in group-B. The differences were statistically not significant (p>0.05) between the twogroups. The mean healing time was 8.95±1.51days in group-A and 25.76±4.23 days in group-B. The mean duration of hospital stay was 5.14±1.03 days in group-A and 26.05±4.03 days in group-B. The mean time required to resume of breastfeeding was 4.57±1.04 days in group-A and 25.73±4.2 days in group-B. The mean score of postoperative pain (visual analog scale) was 1.35±0.48 in group-A and 3.76±0.6 in group-B. The mean requirement of analgesia was 5.24±1.28 days in group-A and 13.95±2.75 days in group-B. More than half (51.4%) patients had better scar quality in group-A and 26(70.3%) had good scar quality in group-B. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion: Primary closure with suction drain results better outcome than conventional incision & drainage in the treatment of breast abscess.