Effectiveness of an absorbable fibrin sealant patch to reduce lymphoceles formation after axillary lymphadenectomy for breast cancer: a matched-pair analysis

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the use of TachoSil as an adjunctive therapy for reducing axillary lymphocele formation.

Methods: Eighty-six patients diagnosed with breast cancer N+ and treated with axillary lymphadenectomy received a TachoSil patch in the axillary wound. Using a database of patients without placing a hemostatic patch, we applied a matched case-control in a 1-to-2 fashion. Multiple and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate postoperative results.

Results: Patient group with TachoSil showed a significantly lower drainage volume (P < .001) and the length of stay was significantly shorter (P < .001). The number of patients with evacuative punctures was 24.5% in the group with patch versus 51.2% in the control group (P < .001). In multivariate analysis, the use of TachoSil was a significant predictor of reducing axillary drainage volume (P < .001), mean length of hospital stay (P = .001), and number of evacuative punctures of lymphocele (odds ratio .264, 95% confidence interval .144 to .484, P < .001).

Conclusion: The use of TachoSil in axillary lymphadenectomy may be a safe and useful treatment option for reducing axillary drainage volume, incidence of symptomatic lymphocele, and hospital stay.

Keywords: Axillary lymphadenectomy; Breast cancer; Fibrin sealant; Lymphocele; TachoSil.