Is it time to say goodbye to drainage after axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer? A randomized clinical trial of systemic tranexamic acid combined with topical epinephrine + xylocaine versus conventional drainage.

Abstract

Drainage after axillary lymph node dissection is a major cause of morbidity. We evaluated the outcomes of topical epinephrine with xylocaine + systemic tranexamic acid (EXT) after axillary lymph node dissection. The primary endpoint was the rate of seroma development. This resulted in reduced hospital stay with similar rates of seroma as drainage after axillary lymph node dissection; thereby making it possible to avoid drainage.