POSTOPERATIVE SEROMA MANAGEMENT

Course overview

SEROMA IS THE ABNORMAL ACCUMULATION OF SEROUS FLUID IN A DEAD SPACE CONTAINING PLASMA AND LYMPHATIC FLUID. IT IS A COMMON POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATION, PARTICULARLY IN BREAST CANCER AND PLASTIC SURGERY. THEY ARE A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF PAIN AND ANXIETY FOR PATIENTS IN THE POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD AND CAN LEAD TO FURTHER COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS INFECTION OR WOUND DEHISCENCE. CURRENT RESEARCH TRENDS FOCUS ON POSTOPERATIVE PREVENTION; HOWEVER, REPEATED ASPIRATION REMAINS THE MAINSTAY OF POSTOPERATIVE SEROMA MANAGEMENT ONCE THIS FLUID COLLECTION DEVELOPS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE POSTOPERATIVE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SEROMAS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING THIS CONDITION.